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A flurry of missions to Mars, to explore the surface and sub-surface of the Red Planet, has commenced with the successful launch of the European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft, and the NASA rover ‘Spirit’ to be shortly followed by a second rover ‘Opportunity’.. These missions have the potential to reveal whether life exists or existed on Mars, and will provide an unprecedented range of new data about the planet.

Click here to download MSA’s pre-launch media release.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Mars Society Australia’s analogue Mars rover project HOP (Human Operations Prototype) is moving ahead, with the the base vehicle delivered to Freemantle, Western Australia. The design phase of the vehicle is nearing completion, after which time construction will commence at Byfield Engineering, at Riverton, WA.
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The ?base? vehicle for HOP has been purchased, allowing the team to commence detailed design and construction work. There will be a series of meetings and workshops in coming weeks to map out both how a pressurised rover would be used on the surface of Mars and how it would be used in an Australian analogue research setting. Project management documentation is also under development.

We are currently looking for people to assist in a range of different technical and generalist roles. Contact Ben Cairns and get involved!
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The new Mars Society of Australia’ s newletter has just been distributed with a bonus CD. The first issue featured eight pages of reports, news items, book reviews, and colour images and was put together by members of the Western Australian Chapter.

This is intended to be a regular publication. If you would like to contribute any articles or advertise upcoming events, then contact editor David Cooper.
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The Mars Society of Australia (Qld.) is pleased to invite you to the second lecture of 2000. Date: Wednesday, August 2nd 2000.
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Mars Society President Dr Robert Zubrin recently visited Australia on a lecture tour during March of this year.
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