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Last week saw the launch of ESA’s Young Engineers’ Satellite (YES) 2 – a tethered re-entry mission that seeks to bring a 5kg payload back to Earth using a 30km piece of string! For the past five years, over 300 students and young graduates from around the world, including several RMIT affiliates, have worked on this project, sponsored primarily by the European Space Agency and managed by Delta-Utec SRC in the Netherlands. Former MSA member Andrew Hyslop has been involved in the project in the Netherlands, and reports on the project here.
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The Victorian branch recently held its Christmas meeting at the Royal Siam Restaurant in Kew. Those present included former MSA President Guy Murphy, who is currently visiting Australia from the UK.

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The Melbourne public has had a long-standing interest in Mars exploration. The following two headlines are both from a local newspaper The Age. The first appeared on 11 May 1907, while the second dates from 8 August, 1996. Is there life on Mars? The debate continues.

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Mars Society Australia is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of National Science Week. The Science Hub in the forecourt of the South Australian Museum is a hive of science activities and displays which is open to the public for free from 10am – 5pm, Saturday 18th August – Sunday 26th August. Our crew of Mars enthusiasts are available to talk with the public all day Saturday and Sunday. Come in and say hello.
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Today, Mars Society Australia President, David Cooper signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NASA Spaceward Bound program’s Chief Investigator, Dr Chris McKay of Ames Research Centre, California. The purpose of this memorandum is to facilitate the training of Australian and US science teachers in the fundamentals of introducing space science and engineering into schools in both countries, and is supported by NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA HQ in Washington.

Read more here …
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Photographs from MSA’s recent annual conference AMEC 2007 may be viewed here, in MSA’s new online photo gallery. Held over the weekend of over the weekend of the 13th to 15th of July, the conference was an enjoyable exploration of new developments in Mars research in Australia and overseas.
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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.
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The 5th Australian Mars Exploration Conference will be held in Canberra this weekend, allowing locals and visitors to hear the latest news about Mars exploration, including findings from the surface of the Red Planet.
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The long awaited laboratory for the Starchaser Marsupial Manned Analog Rover has begun to be constructed. The concrete slab has been poured and it is expected the shed structure will be commenced this week. Photos will follow soon. For more details on the Starchaser Rover visit the Starchaser Marsupial homepage at www.marsupial.org.au.
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