News
Aussie Astronaut Calls On Australian Involvement In Mars Exploration
Sunday, 10 November 2002
Australian astronaut Dr. Andy Thomas opened the new facility at the Australian Centre for Astrobiology at Macquarie University in November with a powerful speech urging Australia to set up a national space agency and take an active part in space exploration activities. He pointed out that "Mars is the great exploration of the 21st century, but Australian kids will see no Australian role. This is not a healthy legacy to leave the next generation." A copy of his notes of the speech can be found at http://aca.mq.edu.au/andy.html
Australian Palaeonlogist To Lead NASA Astrobiology Institute
Saturday, 2 November 2002
Australian palaeontologist Dr. Bruce Runnegar has been selected as the next director of NASA's Astrobiology Institute (NAI). As director of the Institute, Runnegar will lead efforts to answer the three big questions central to astrobiology: How does life begin and evolve? Does life exist elsewhere? What is life's future on Earth and beyond? Some of the answers to these questions may be found by exploring Mars. Mars Society Australia wishes Dr. Runnegar well with his new appointment.
MarsOZ - Check Out the Latest Proposal
Monday, 28 October 2002
An addendum to the MarsOZ proposal document has been prepared by Project Manager Dr Jonathan Clarke, and is now available online. Jonathan has included updated information on systems, equipment and fitout of MARS-OZ, as well as some new plans and drawings, which are the first step towards building our own Mars analogue research facility in the Australian Outback. People with engineering, architectural or technical experience who are keen to assist with the project are encouraged to contact Jonathan with ideas and suggestions. Download the addendum document (pdf) here
Interested potential sponsors of the MarsOZ habitat should contact Jennifer Laing for further information...
Interested potential sponsors of the MarsOZ habitat should contact Jennifer Laing for further information...
Tune in to Radio Free Mars
Thursday, 10 October 2002
Radio Free Mars is an hour long radio broadcast produced by MarsNews.com. The RFM broadcast covers the Planet Mars and all the news, issues, and views surrounding the Red Planet.In the 1st Broadcast (commencing Oct 24 2002), James Burk, Editor-in-chief provides an overview of the Mars Odyssey mission and an analysis of some of the issues surrounding the available data and images. Also included, is an excerpt from Burk's radio interview with Mexican journalist Jamie Maussan regarding the red planet. Program runs 40 minutes without commercials and includes Dustin Green's Five Minute Mars newscast. It also features music from Holst's "The Nine Planets: Mars, Bringer of War" .
Read more and tune in by clicking here.
Prototype MCP Analogue Suit Debuts at AMEC
Thursday, 18 July 2002
The first prototype of the MarsSkin analogue Mechancial Counter Pressure (MCP) suit was presented at AMEC2002 by project manager James Waldie. The suit is intended to be used used in Mars analogue research projects undertaken in Australia and internationally, and includes a special helmet system being developed by students at the University of Sydney.
Read more at the MarsSkin homepage.
Read more at the MarsSkin homepage.
AMEC2002 An Outstanding Success
Thursday, 18 July 2002
Over 130 delegates gathered at Sydney University over the weekend of July 12-14 for the largest Mars conference held in Australia, AMEC 2002 (the Second Australian Mars Exploration Conference). Highlights of the weekend included the opening address by former Apollo 17 astronaut Dr Harrison Schmitt, the first public display of the Australian MarsSkin analogue suit, and the announcement of the winner of the Undergraduate Prize, Yon Wui Ng.
More reports will be posted shortly.
More reports will be posted shortly.
Harrison Schmitt Touring Australia 7th-18th July
Sunday, 2 June 2002
Apollo 17 astronaut and geologist Dr. Harrison Schmitt will be touring Australia between July 7th and 18th, 2002. Dr Schmitt was the last man to walk on the moon and the only scientist to do. Organised by the Mars Society Australia, the tour program will include public events in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne. Highlights of the tour will include a gala dinner at the Corus Hotel Sydney on Friday 12th July, and the presentation of the keynote opening address at the Australian Mars Exploration Conference at the University of Sydney on 13th July.
To find out more, read Dr Schmitt's bio, view the tour program and download a...
Students Consider Life on Mars 'Down Under'
Tuesday, 12 February 2002
Seventeen Australian university students are about to examine what it would be like to live and work on Mars and the human and psychological effects of isolation and close confinement for months on end.
The Australian National University (ANU) School of Psychology, with the close involvement of Mars Society Australia (MSA), is running an inaugural Coastal Summer School, which will require young people to put themselves in the place of those who might one day venture to the Martian surface. This event, to be held at Kioloa, a property owned by ANU on the NSW coast, on December 9-11 was advertised nationally, with 17 students selected to take part from a group of around 70 applicants.
Find out more here.
The Australian National University (ANU) School of Psychology, with the close involvement of Mars Society Australia (MSA), is running an inaugural Coastal Summer School, which will require young people to put themselves in the place of those who might one day venture to the Martian surface. This event, to be held at Kioloa, a property owned by ANU on the NSW coast, on December 9-11 was advertised nationally, with 17 students selected to take part from a group of around 70 applicants.
Find out more here.
Mars-OZ Proposal Document Released
Wednesday, 6 February 2002
Mars Society Australia has released version 1 of the Australian Mars Analogue Research Station (Mars-OZ) proposal document. The Lake Frome Plains to the east of Arkaroola was selected for the site of (Mars-OZ) during the Jarntimarra Expedition, which was undertaken in October-November 2001. Mars-OZ will provide a laboratory to study how humans will live and work on Mars, and will complement similar stations in Utah, Devon Island, and Iceland.
Click here for more information and to download the document in pdf format (1.3Mb).
Call For Papers - AMEC 2002
Wednesday, 6 February 2002
ABSTRACTS DUE 30 APRIL 2002Mars Society Australia will be holding its annual conference AMEC - the Australian Mars Exploration Conference - in Sydney on July 12-14, 2002. Those interested in speaking at the conference should forward a short abstract (less than 300 words) detailing your proposed topic to Jennifer Laing pr@marssociety.org.au, on or before 30 April 2002. Queries may also be directed to the same address.
For more information click here.
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