MSA Welcomes Arkaroola Resort as New Corporate Member

August 26, 2005

The Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary and Resort has become a corporate member of Mars Society Australia. This is in recognition of their outstanding support for MSAs expeditions to the area, including Jarntimarra-1 and Expedition Two, and MSAs future research and education program. The Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary and Resort is situated in the northernmost Flinders Ranges in central South Australia, some 600km north of Adelaide and 130km east of the coal-mining town of Leigh Creek. The 610sq km wilderness sanctuary is operated by the Sprigg family and has advanced ecotourism accreditation for tourism featuring the geology, ecology, landscape and astronomical features of the area.

MSA selected the Arkaroola region as its prime Australian Mars research region in 2001. The reasons included the fact that the Arkaroola region and its hinterland in a 200 km radius from the resort contains a diversity of features of interest to Mars geologists and astrobiologists. Furthermore, the diverse landscapes allow the testing of different equipment, and area that will contain the MARS-OZ station can be isolated allowing the study of crew psycho-social interaction under field conditions. Also, thanks to the support of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary and Resort and the Sprigg family, the area is logistically accessible. Lastly the large numbers of tourists who visit this unique place provide a good opportunity for education and outreach about Mars exploration that is in keeping with the long standing role Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary and Resort in science and environmental education.

We welcome our newest corporate members and look forward to developing our relationship with them as MSA continues to work towards the goal of human presence on the Red Planet.