MarsOZ – Check Out the Latest Proposal

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.
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Starchaser Marsupial Rover: Stage 2 is Go

Project Marsupial, the MSA’s analogue rover construction project, has received a giant boost with the news that Starchaser Industries, a UK aerospace firm, will fully fund Stage 2 of the innovative project. Starchaser has donated A$41,000 and secured naming rights to the rover, which will henceforth be called the Starchaser Marsupial Rover.
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MSA Aims For First Mars Society Orbital Payload

The Mars Society Australia (MSA) will become a primary user of the Joint Australian Engineering Satellite (JAESAT) which is to be launched in late 2002. If successful, JAESAT could become the first Mars Society orbital payload. SAFMARS will allow Earth-based Mars analogue field workers to send and receive messages to and from the Internet using portable terminals.
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Australian Team Wins Rover Funding

The Mars Society Australia will receive a grant of US$10,000 (AU$19,000) to begin construction on a prototype vehicle, part of an international effort to put humans on the planet Mars. The prototype, designed by a team based at the University of Queensland, is known as the ‘HOP’ (Human Operations Prototype), and will allow researchers to undertake weeklong excursions in Australian Mars-like locations.

Download the media kit here in pdf format.
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WANTED – Engineers With Project Experience

The Mars Society Australia (MSA) is pursuing a bold programme to contribute to the international effort to plan, facilitate and promote human missions to the Red Planet. MSA requires volunteer engineers in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide with at least one year of professional experience to assist with and manage projects. We are looking for both dynamic young engineers with minimal experience and senior engineers with more substantial experience.

For more information click here.
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Australia offered role in Mars Research Station Plan

Dr Robert Zubrin has just offered the Australian Mars Society the opportunity to participate in an international program developing the technologies necessary for human exploration and colonisation of Mars. We have been offered one of four prototype Mars habitats as part of the Mars analogue program,to be set up in the Australian desert.

More details can be found in this press release and in the Mars Society’s Analogue Stations Program document.
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Australasian Science Magazine Special Mars Issue

The August issue of Australasian Science magazine has just hit the newsagents and focuses on Mars. You’ll find lots of interesting articles to look at, including articles on Australians involved in Mars-related research, the ‘White Mars’ theory, and details of the proposed Mars Society Australia analogue research facility to be located Down Under -Mars Oz! Many of the people involved in Mars Society Australia research projects are featured in this issue. Check it out now.
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