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Updated: 20 August, 2007.
The Mars Society Australia, Inc is an APPROVED RESEARCH INSTITUTE for the purposes of Section 73A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 for undertaking scientific research which is, or may prove to be, of value to Australia.
Mars-Oz: A Simulated Mars Base in the Arkaroola Region
The preferred site for the Mars-Oz simulated base lies on the
Arkaroola
lease, Australia’s first and largest private nature preserve.
The Sprigg family who run the property have a long history of supporting scientific research and eco-tourism. They are supportive
of the establishment of a Mars analogue facility and the many visitors to the region provide an excellent opportunity for outreach.
Arkaroola is eight hours by road north of Adelaide. In an emergency the all weather airstrip at Balcanoona would permit air
evacuation by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The same airstrip can also be used by charter operators.
An account of the site selection process which identified the Arkaroola region may be read
here, and detailed report describing the rationale for the
specific site may be
downloaded
as a pdf document.
The Mars-Oz concept employs a Hab, a Cargo vehicle and Mars Transfer Vehicle (MTV).
(The Mars Transfer Vehicle is not discussed here.) A summary of vehicle functions is given below.
Habitat (Hab) - Travels to the Martian surface, direct from earth and becomes the core of the Mars base.
It consists of a cabin, propulsion module, heat shield, landing engines and parachutes.
Concept designs of the interior of the unit, include the floorplan and fittings have been prepared by
Kerstin Thompson Architects.
(See the links below to floor plans, sections and perspective images).
Cargo Vehicle - Transports equipment to the Martian surface direct from earth 2 years prior to the arrival of the crew.
The equipment consists of a Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) for the crew to reach low mars orbit, hydrogen stock fuel, an in-situ resource
utilisation processing plant, a pressurised rover and surface supplies for the crew. It also has a propulsion module, heat shield,
landing engines and parachutes.
Mars Transfer Vehicle (MTV) - Travels to low Mars orbit from earth. It transports the crew back to Earth from low mars orbit.
It consists of a cabin, landing capsule with heat shield, and propulsion module for earth return.
Technical drawings and perpective views showing configuration details of the proposed facility may be downloaded in pdf or jpg format
by clicking on the links below.
