More MSA Articles

ISRO to help upgrade the HOPE Mars Analogue Station

It was announced today that India’s National Space Agency, ISRO, is assisting with upgrades to the HOPE analogue station established by Protoplant and the MSA. These ugrades follow on from

May 14, 2026 No Comments

Call for MSA Director Nominations

The Mars Society Australia is now calling for nominations for its Board of Directors in its partial annual election as required by our Articles of Association. Nominees need to be

May 5, 2026 No Comments

From Ladakh to Mars – The HOPE Analog Mission

A new Red Planet Live podcast episode just aired featuring an in-depth look at HOPE in Ladakh, India — the newest addition to the global Mars analog community and an

February 17, 2026 No Comments

MSA Annual General Meeting – Sunday 28th September 2025

The 2025 Annual General Meeting for the Mars Society Australia will be held at 5pm on Sunday 28th Septemeber 2025. Zoom Meeting ID 8959761238 The meeting password, President’s report, Financial

September 14, 2025 No Comments

HOPE Mission Concludes: India’s First Analogue Astronauts Emerge from 10-Day Isolation Study

Leh, India August 12th, 2025 A significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey was celebrated yesterday as the HOPE mission concluded, marking the successful completion of a 10-day isolation study

August 12, 2025 No Comments

Mars Society joins Protoplanet to establish a new Mars Analogue Training Environment in Ladakh, India

1st of August 2025, Leh, Ladakh, India – A significant international collaboration is underway in the high-altitude terrain of Ladakh, India, aimed at establishing a sophisticated Mars analogue research and training

August 1, 2025 No Comments

January 11, 2012

Leonardo & Lisa Expeditions Underway

Two complementary Mars simulation projects have commenced at the Mar Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah to investigate the role of gender in an international Mars mission crew. Organised by alumni of the International Space University, the Leonardo project will be carried out by an international male team from April 15 to May 1, while the Mona Lisa project all-female crew will be in the MDRS from May 1 to 15 2005.

Two complementary Mars simulation projects have commenced at the Mar Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah to investigate the role of gender in an international Mars mission crew. Organised by alumni of the International Space University, the Leonardo project will be carried out by an international male team from April 15 to May 1, while the Mona Lisa project all-female crew will be in the MDRS from May 1 to 15 2005. Both crews will perform similar tasks in comparable conditions and their results will be put side by side. The expeditions follow on from research done on Expedition 1 and Expedition 2 relating to MSA’s MarsSkin, and human factors projects. Two MSA members are participating, MarsSkin Project Manager James Waldie and engineer Natalie Cutler.

Read more about the Leonardo and Lisa Projects, and check daily mission reports.