The Mars Society Australia's analogue Mars rover project HOP (Human Operations Prototype) is moving ahead, with the the base vehicle delivered to Freemantle, Western Australia. The design phase of the vehicle is nearing completion, after which time construction will commence at Byfield Engineering, at Riverton, WA.
HOP is currently seeking sponsorship to complete its internal fitout and for its testing phase. The Mars Society Australia is keen for its sponsors benefit from the extensive national media coverage the project has received to date, which has included prime time national television coverage.
If you would like to contribute in money or in kind, please contact Project Manager Dr Graham Mann.
News
Significant SAFMARS Milestone Achieved
Wednesday, 14 November 2001
The SAFMARS project has achieved a significant milestone with the development of a high-level design for the satellite ground stations that will be used in future Mars-analogue research as part of Operation Red Centre.
Click here for more information.
Click here for more information.
Project Jarntimarra - Mission Accomplished
Wednesday, 14 November 2001
Follow the course of the highly successful Starchaser sponsored Jarntimarra expedition to the red centre through the eyes of the participants! Read the travel logs from Jennifer Laing and Jason Hoogland on the JNT-1 expedition homepage. Also, see the newly updated photo gallery. Australia is now one step closer to having its own outback space research facility, to be used for testing equipment and technology which could help to send humans to Mars. Find out more by reading our latest press release (pdf) (0.06 Mb).
Email our Mars Experts in the Field!
Saturday, 3 November 2001
The Jarntimarra-1 field expedition currently in central Australia is composed of some leading experts in Mars related research, including:
- Dr Carol Stoker, NASA Ames Research Centre - Mars Pathfinder Scientist
- Dr Larry Lemke, NASA Ames Research Centre - Advanced projects engineer currently working on Mars airplane
- Prof Vic Gostin, University of Adelaide - Geology of central Australia, paleo-geology and meteorite impacts
- Dr Jonathan Clarke, Australian National University - Geology of central Australia, Mars geology
- Dr Graham Mann, Murdoch University - Robots for Mars and Mars missions
- Jason Hoogland - MSA technical programme including HOP, Marskin, SAFMARS,Mars-Oz, Jarntimarra, Operation Red Centre
- James Waldie, RMIT - Mechanical Counter Pressure suits
Project Jarntimarra - JNT-1 Mission Update
Friday, 2 November 2001
Follow the Starchaser sponsored Jarntimarra expedition to the red centre through the eyes of some of the participants! For starters we have the logs from Jennifer Laing and Jason Hoogland on the JNT-1 expedition page. We will attempt to update these daily.
Latest Overview of MSA Activities
Saturday, 27 October 2001
At a public forum featuring Dr Carol Stoker and Dr Mark Bishop in Adelaide prior to the departure of JNT-1, Tech Director Jason Hoogland presented an overview of MSA including our current technical activities and opportunities for wider involvement in technical and non-technical areas.
The presentation is a single MS Powerpoint document, split for ease of download into two parts. Active MSA members are encourage to use their own adapted version of this to promote our activities. Any questions of policy, budgeting or scheduling should be deferred to the MSA Board via the President.
PowerPoint slide presentation (part 1) (2.8MB),
PowerPoint slide presentation (part 2) (2.2MB).
The presentation is a single MS Powerpoint document, split for ease of download into two parts. Active MSA members are encourage to use their own adapted version of this to promote our activities. Any questions of policy, budgeting or scheduling should be deferred to the MSA Board via the President.
PowerPoint slide presentation (part 1) (2.8MB),
PowerPoint slide presentation (part 2) (2.2MB).
Mars Odyssey and Mars Society Australia - the 'Down Under' Connection
Monday, 22 October 2001
Mars Odyssey has emerged from behind Mars after orbital insertion at 1pm 24 Oct 2001 Eastern Australian Time. View the latest press release (pdf) on Mars Odyssey and the Mars Society Australia. See also the NASA press kit (pdf) on Mars Odyssey.
Free Public Forum - Mars: Exploring The Red Planet
Thursday, 18 October 2001
Presented by the Mars Society Australia and the Department of Geology & Geophysics, Adelaide University. There will be a panel discussion & question time following the presentations. All are welcome!
Download a press release...
| When: | 7.00 pm - 8.30 pm, Friday, 26 October 2001 |
| Where: | Mawson Theatre, Adelaide University (enter Victoria Dr., near Gate 8) |
| Speakers: | Dr Carol Stoker, NASA - Designing human missions to Mars Dr Mark Bishop, University of South Australia - Martian Geomorphology Jason Hoogland, MSA - Project Jarntimarra: How Australians can help us get to Mars
|
Jarntimarra Press Kit Released
Monday, 15 October 2001
Download the newly released official Jarntimarra press kit (pdf), which contains information about all aspects of the expedition. The expedition itinerary can be found here. Any media inquiries can be directed to public relations director Jennifer Laing at pr@marssociety.org.au. or by telephone on (0417 135 113).
Starchaser Sponsors Outback Expedition
Sunday, 2 September 2001
The Mars Society Australia has announced that a scientific team including experts from a number of Australian universities as well as several NASA researchers will travel to outback South Australia and the Northern Territory on October 27 to examine sites suitable for analogue research activities.Undertaken as part of Project Jarntimarra, the expedition is being sponsored by U.K. aerospace company Starchaser Industries. "Starchaser have shown great vision and generosity in choosing to support this expedition," said Mars Society Australia President Guy Murphy.
For more information click here.
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