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D-Mars
D-MARS (in English: Desert Mars Analog Ramon Station) is an association and center for Mars analog space missions, located in the Ramon Crater area. Up until 2021, approximately 10 missions and training sessions simulating manned missions to Mars have been conducted at the facility, including 4 missions for teenagers. In October 2021, the D-MARS site hosted the international mission AMADEE-20, in collaboration with the Austrian Space Forum, the Israel Space Agency, and partners and researchers from about 25 countries.
About the Project
D-MARS is an association and center for analog space missions located in the Ramon Crater, providing space simulation services for Israelis and international teams, as well as serving as a hub for space education. Participants in the analog mission, who simulate a stay on Mars, are called "Ramonauts."
The project's founders include graduates of the summer program at the International Space University, led by Dr. Hillel Rubinstein (until November 2021), along with space enthusiasts interested in Mars analog missions. This is in collaboration with the Davidson Institute of Science Education and the educational program for establishing a school for young astronauts initiated and established by Hillel. The founders of the project, the Ramonauts, and most of those involved in D-MARS are volunteers.
The first mission took place south of the Ramon Crater in February 2018 for four days, aiming to test the facility (the habitat) and equipment, conduct various research, and prepare the infrastructure for the world's first student mission, which took place in April 2018. The commander of the Ramonauts on this mission was Dr. Hillel Rubinstein.
In 2019, the facility was moved into the Ramon Crater, where several missions took place, the longest of which lasted 11 days, commanded by Ramonaut Yiftach Koryal.
In March 2020, two consecutive student missions were conducted, involving students from the third cohort of the school for young astronauts, and in November 2020, a five-day Ramonaut training was held.
In October 2021, the D-MARS site hosted the international mission AMADEE-20, in collaboration with the Austrian Space Forum, the Israel Space Agency, and partners and researchers from about 25 countries. The Israeli representatives on the mission were Alon Tancer and Liad Yosef.
Various possibilities for additional missions and projects are being examined for 2022.
Mission components
The habitat
The structure housing the "Ramonauts" until 2020 was developed and designed by the architectural duo Alon Shikar and Moshe Tsegai. The team, along with students from the Technion and in collaboration with students from the Davidson Institute, created a collapsible structure weighing 3 tons and covering an area of approximately 50 square meters. Additionally, as per requirements, it can be folded and set up in the field within a few hours. The course at the Technion included 25 students from the faculties of architecture, aeronautics, computer science, and chemistry. This habitat was renovated and expanded during 2021 and now also includes an advanced hygiene unit.
Another innovative structure, the D-MARS Habitat 2.0, was designed starting in 2019 and its construction was completed in October 2021 in preparation for the AMADEE-20 mission. This structure features an advanced airlock, air conditioning systems designed to enable positive pressure and pressure control, a double wall as part of a radiation protection concept, and a base for integrating additional elements (clean room, inflatable second floor, and additional units).
The complex includes a small laboratory for conducting experiments and an area for team meetings and shared meals. There is a residential wing where the Ramonauts sleep inside sleeping capsules, along with restrooms and a small kitchenette. To simulate life on Mars, there is a conservation of water (no shower) and energy. The energy source for the complex is photovoltaic panels (solar panels) placed near the facility. Additionally, there is an entrance simulating an airlock for preparations before leaving the complex for EVA (extravehicular activity).
During the mission, the habitat is located in an isolated area around the Ramon Crater. This area is similar to Mars in its geology, aridity, and isolation, making it a good simulation site for the Martian environment.
the suit and life support system.
The space suit is designed to simulate the suit required for activities outside the habitat on Mars, meaning it is intended to be comfortable for prolonged field activities, include components of a life support system (the PLSS suitcase), and come with a helmet, gloves, and special boots.
The suit was designed by fashion designer Alon Livne, and the project's suit team, led by aerospace engineer Yuval Porat, designed the helmet and backpack simulating the life support system (PLSS: Portable Life Support System). In the first mission, the suitcase contained two blowers—one medically approved for supplying air from outside to the helmet, and the other for cooling the suit—along with a battery, a voltage conversion box, a hydration pack, a fan speed regulator, and a computer centralizing the sensors. For simplicity, a smartphone was used in the first mission. The initial system weighs 11 kg, with the option to add weight and additional elements to simulate the constraints of a space suit. These systems were renovated and improved during 2020 by aerospace engineer Mikail Rezinsky.
The control room
The control room is located at the Davidson Institute of Science Education, which is part of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Communication between the control room and the Ramonauts is managed with a 10-minute delay to simulate the expected communication delay during a mission on Mars. In the control room are the mission manager and their deputy, the safety officer, the liaison officer with the Ramonauts, the science officer responsible for experiments, the medical officer responsible for the safety of the Ramonauts, the technical support person, and those responsible for writing the log and handling communication with the media.
D-MARS 01 Mission
The first D-MARS mission took place from February 15 to 18, 2018. Six analog astronauts (called "Ramonauts") entered the habitat located in the Ramon Crater area and stayed there for four days. Any excursions from the habitat for experiments and operations required wearing a special suit to simulate walking on the surface of Mars.
Candidate Identification and Recruitment
In the first mission, several roles were defined, some for the Ramonauts in the field team and others for mission planning, habitat structure, communication with the media in Israel and abroad, and community relations. A structured process was conducted to identify, recruit, and select candidates to participate as Ramonauts and to staff the control room.
In the first stage, the role profile, description, and requirements were developed together with the mission managers. Subsequently, a call for applications was published on social media, in professional space groups, and on the Facebook group of Mitzpe Ramon. In the third stage, an initial screening was conducted based on the résumés submitted along with the application form. A phone interview was conducted with candidates who met the basic requirements, assessing language skills and self-expression, willingness to stay in the field, comfort with close quarters with others, and the ability to handle stress and unexpected situations. Full availability for the mission dates and preparatory meetings was also required. In the final stage, a centralized in-person interview day was conducted for candidates who passed the initial stages. This interview was led by the project's recruitment and selection manager, Neta Frans-Wiesel, along with Dr. Reut Sorek Abramovich, the mission manager.
The Ramonauts
In the first mission, six analog astronauts, called Ramonauts, participated:
- Dr. Hillel Rubinstein was the mission commander and a post-doctoral researcher at Ben-Gurion University. He studied and received a PhD in physics from the Weizmann Institute of Science. Rubinstein researches Mars missions and develops concepts for low-altitude imaging satellites. During the mission, Rubinstein was also responsible for the MSTAT experiment and communication with another analog mission by the Austrian Space Forum.
- Dr. Reut Sorek-Abramovich was the science officer and the deputy commander. Sorek-Abramovich holds a PhD in microbiology and immunology and is a researcher at the Dead Sea and Arava Science Center. She is also a co-founder of the Israeli Mars Society and lectures on astrobiology at the International Space University. During the mission, she was responsible for the geobiological experiment, the 3D printing and local soil experiment, and the psychological experiment.
- Professor Guy Ron is a nuclear physics expert from the Hebrew University, researching basic particle interactions. During the mission, Ron was responsible for the cosmic radiation experiment conducted simultaneously in the Ramon Crater area and the Dhofar Desert in Oman.
- Alon Shikar is an architect and owner of a design and planning firm, and a lecturer at the Technion's Faculty of Architecture. Shikar was responsible for building the habitat with Moshe Tsegai and, during the mission, was in charge of assessing the structure's operation, maintaining it by the Ramonauts, and documenting the mission.
- Jackie Fay is a professional cellist and the director of the music center in Mitzpe Ramon. She also guides astronomy tours. During the mission, she was responsible for documenting the mission in the habitat and the field.
- Nadav Kushnir is a master's student in social work, a tour guide, and a lecturer at the Davidson Institute's school for young astronauts. During the mission, Kushnir was the mission's medical officer, responsible for the menu and monitoring the Ramonauts' food.
All the Ramonauts were active participants in extravehicular activities and various experiments.
Experiments
The first mission included five scientific experiments from five different scientific disciplines.
- Measurement of Cosmic Radiation Particle Flux (S-PHY):
This experiment measured the flux of cosmic radiation particles at two different sites. It was designed to simulate how two groups of astronauts, located in different places on Mars, measure the intensity of cosmic radiation. The measurement was conducted using sensors placed on the ground. This experiment was conducted simultaneously in the Ramon Crater area and the Dhofar Desert in Oman, in collaboration with another Mars analog mission, AMADEE18, by the Austrian Space Forum. The experiment was led by Professor Guy Ron, who was also one of the Ramonauts on the mission.
- Geo-biological Surface Research in Search of Life (S-GB):
This experiment aimed to simulate the technologies and methods for finding life on Mars. As part of the experiment, soil and rock samples were collected, and surface sensors were deployed to measure pressure and temperature. The measurements were examined in a laboratory within the habitat to search for organisms living in extreme conditions and to study their adaptation to a hostile environment. The collected rocks were cut and examined under a microscope to identify cyanobacteria and other biological groups. The samples will also be re-examined after the mission in a laboratory at the Weizmann Institute using molecular tools to characterize the organisms in detail. The duration of the experiment included two field excursions, each lasting four hours, and an additional 20 hours in the habitat. Dr. Reut Sorek-Abramovich from the Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, who was also a Ramonaut on the mission, led the experiment. It was conducted in collaboration with the Minerva Center for Life Under Extreme Planetary Conditions at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Equipment included over 100 different components, such as a digital microscope, 70% ethanol, a diamond knife, Mars powder, and a geological hammer.
- Communication Between Mars Missions (MSTAT-COM):
This experiment simulated two astronaut teams landing on Mars in different locations and needing to communicate with each other, examining the behavior of the teams with expected and unexpected communication interruptions. In an expected scenario, there is no direct communication available to the team with the ground station (e.g., the satellite providing communication is unavailable due to its orbital position), and in unexpected situations like a technical failure. This experiment was conducted jointly with another analog mission by the Austrian Space Forum, AMADEE18, which simulated a mission to Mars in the Dhofar Desert in Oman. The experiment involved the D-MARS team in the habitat in the Ramon Crater area, the control center in Rehovot, the Austrian Space Forum's control center, and the AMADEE18 mission team in Innsbruck, Austria, and the field team in Oman. During the experiment, due to a communication interruption between the habitat in the crater area and the control room in Rehovot, the team had to establish contact with the team in Oman and address issues during extravehicular activities, ensuring communication was relayed through the chain (Ramon Crater area - Kepler Station in the Dhofar Desert, Oman - control center in Innsbruck, Austria - D-MARS control center in Rehovot and back). Dr. Hillel Rubinstein from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, who was also the commander of the D-MARS 01 mission, led the experiment.
- Psychology of Isolation and Stress (S-PSY):
This experiment studied the impact of isolation and stress on the Ramonauts' performance, using psychological questionnaires during the mission and after specific activities such as creative tasks and group discussions. The experiment aimed to understand the social, physiological, and cultural factors that most affect Ramonaut performance, to identify areas for improvement for future missions to achieve higher performance levels. Previous studies have shown that under stress, subjects tend to respond more briefly and with fewer words in written form. The experiment aimed to examine the relationship between stress levels and the Ramonauts' verbal expression abilities at different stages of the mission. The experiment was conducted jointly with Dr. Alessandro Alcibiade and Dr. Irena Schacht from the University of Pisa in Italy and the Politecnico di Milano.
- Three-Dimensional Printing (S-3D):
This experiment was a preliminary test of the feasibility of 3D printing with local soil. In the initial phase, soil samples were collected in the field, and the mechanical strength of the local soil was tested to assess the feasibility of future 3D printing. This is because future settlements on Mars are expected to use 3D printing technologies to construct large parts of the structures on site. Dr. Michael Liani from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem led the experiment.
Collaborations
The D-MARS project is supported and conducted in collaboration with the Davidson Institute of Science Education, the Israel Space Agency, the Yekaa Fund, and in partnership with the Dead Sea and Arava Science Center and the Mitzpe Ramon Local Council. The center develops programs and scientific experiments with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, the Hebrew University, the Minerva Center at the Davidson Institute of Science, and the Technion.
Additional companies contributed to the preparation of the first mission: In construction, Ormat, Danpal, and Alpha Projects. In electricity and energy, the Kahana Group. In plumbing, Peka (the Agricultural Depot), and in mattresses, Poliron. The space suit was designed by Alon Livne, and the biological and environmental sensors were provided by Telit and BioBit. Communication for the mission was provided by the Amos 7 satellite of Spacecom, and ground equipment was provided by Gilat Telecom.
D-MARS EDU 01 Mission
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D-MARS 02 Mission
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D-MARS 03 Mission
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The D-MARS 02 mission took place between March 3 and March 14, 2019. During the mission, scientific experiments were conducted, research tours were carried out, medical simulations were performed, and more. The mission crew consisted of three women and three men.
Medical Mission
Several psychological experiments were conducted as part of this mission, including:
- The Impact of Isolation Stress on Sleep Quality: To examine how sleep quality is affected, the Ramonauts wore rings that measured various physiological characteristics throughout the day and night, and they reported on their sleep quality.
- Vocabulary Changes Under Stress: Previous research has shown that under stress, people tend to use shorter sentences and a smaller vocabulary. The Ramonauts filled out questionnaires to examine this phenomenon, assessing the level of stress and its impact.
Microbial Experiment
- Microbial Contamination Potential Assessment: Conducted in collaboration with the Minerva Center at the Weizmann Institute of Science, this experiment assumed that it is impossible to achieve complete sterilization of anything sent to space—meaning bacteria from Earth will inevitably accompany the first mission to Mars. The experiment examined which bacteria astronauts bring with them to the habitat and its immediate surroundings. This was done by taking samples from various locations, such as the Ramonauts' gloves after returning from a mission and soil samples from both close to and far from the habitat. After sampling, bacteria were isolated using a biological hood. The bacteria were identified through DNA tests, and some were further cultivated in an incubator for additional tests.
- Feasibility Study for Bacterial Growth in Soil: This experiment assessed the feasibility of growing bacteria in the soil, which could have implications for future missions and the potential for biotechnological applications on Mars.
Geological Mission
- Soil Sample Collection Using a Remote-Controlled Vehicle: The mission involved collecting soil samples with a remote-controlled vehicle to assess their components.
Agricultural Mission
- Feasibility Study for Hydroponic Lettuce Cultivation: This experiment examined the potential for growing hydroponic lettuce, which could be a crucial step toward sustainable agriculture on Mars.
D-MARS 04 Mission
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The D-MARS 04 mission will take place in October and November 2020, in collaboration with the Austrian Space Forum.
Selection Process
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D-MARS Missions Conducted by Youth
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As mentioned above, some missions are conducted by youth and students as part of the School for Young Astronauts.
D-MARS EDU 04 Mission
From March 13 to March 19, 2020, two consecutive missions were carried out by graduates of the third cohort of the School for Young Astronauts, led by the head instructor of the cohort, Tzvika Gottlieb. Thirteen students participated in the missions, with seven in the first mission and six in the second. The mission marked the culmination of a two-year program during which the students learned about space and Mars, particularly focusing on manned missions to Mars. About six months before the mission, they were primarily engaged in practical training and planning for the mission. The students designed the mission under the guidance of Tzvika Gottlieb and Dr. Hillel Rubinstein.
During the mission, the students stayed alone in the habitat, managed the mission themselves, and conducted the pre-prepared scientific experiments. The control room was manned for most of the mission by students from Ort Braude College in Karmiel. About six months before the mission, a call for proposals was published for a competition among schools invited to suggest experiments to be conducted during the mission. Out of the proposed experiments, three were performed in the mission.
Additionally, for the first time, a prototype electric vehicle built by Ora, one of the program's students, was used in the mission. The vehicle allows Ramonauts to travel and thus extend their range of movement around the habitat.
Experiments
- Water Desalination Experiment:
Proposed in the school competition. Mars has a shortage of fresh water, and human survival on Mars will require desalination of brackish water. The experiment aimed to explore the possibility of utilizing Mars' low air pressure (about one percent of Earth's pressure) for water desalination.
- Algae Cultivation Experiment:
Proposed in the school competition. To enable human survival on Mars, food must be grown on Martian soil. Algae are considered a potential food source that is relatively easy to cultivate and can provide important dietary components. Additionally, algae can serve as a source of oxygen production for use in the research colony on Mars. Martian soil is rich in iron oxides, so the experiment involved growing algae with iron powder to test the effect of different iron powder concentrations on algae growth and oxygen emission.
- Edible Sheets Experiment:
Proposed in the school competition. The experiment aimed to test the properties of edible sheets, with the intention of using them in the future to wrap food to preserve it and save on conventional packaging materials, which are usually difficult to recycle, especially in Martian conditions.
- Radio Joves Experiment:
Based on a NASA kit designed to receive radio signals from Jupiter and the sun. The kit consists of a radio receiver and a pair of dipole antennas. As preparation for the final mission, the students built the receiver and antennas. At the beginning of the mission, the antennas were deployed on poles outside the habitat and connected to the receiver inside the habitat. The measurement results were stored on a computer. These results will help build a warning system to alert astronauts to solar storms, allowing them to take protective measures. The experiment is part of final projects conducted by Amir and Sean, two students from the School for Young Astronauts.
- Geological Experiment:
This experiment investigated the geology of the Ramon Crater area around the habitat. Several extravehicular activities were conducted to collect rock and soil samples from different areas around the habitat. The soil and rock composition was analyzed during the mission using equipment available in the habitat.
- Psychological Experiment:
This experiment examined the impact of social activities on the performance of individuals isolated for several days in a small, crowded facility. The experiment is part of a final project conducted by Elad, a student from the School for Young Astronauts.
- WiFi Coverage Experiment:
A router inside the habitat provides WiFi for communication and experiments conducted within the habitat. Antennas on the habitat's roof enable WiFi reception outside the habitat. The experiment aimed to map WiFi coverage around the habitat compared to signal strength inside the habitat. The results will help improve WiFi reception around the habitat. The experiment is part of a final project conducted by Sean, a student from the School for Young Astronauts.
- Radio Device Coverage Experiment:
Communication between the habitat and Ramonauts on extravehicular activities is conducted via radio devices. Due to the terrain, radio coverage around the habitat is incomplete. The experiment aimed to map radio coverage around the habitat. The results will help better plan extravehicular activities (in terms of communication with the Ramonauts) and improve radio reception around the habitat. The experiment is part of a final project conducted by Sean, a student from the School for Young Astronauts.
See Also
- List of Analog Missions (List of Mars analogs)
- Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station) - An analog mission conducted in the Arctic.
- Mars Desert Research Station (Mars Desert Research Station) - An analog mission conducted in the United States.
- Mars (MARS-500)
External Links
- Media and Files on D-MARS (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:DMARS) at Wikimedia Commons(https://he.wiki.x.io/wiki/%D7%95%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A3)
- [Official Website of D-MARS](https://www.d-mars.org/)
- [D-MARS on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SpaceAnalog)
- [D-MARS on X (Twitter)](https://www.twitter.com/DMarsAnalog)
- [D-MARS on GuideStar Israel](https://www.guidestar.org.il/organization/580666691)
- [Mission Blog (Archived on December 16, 2019, in the Wayback Machine)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191216031133/https://www.d-mars.org/blog)
- ["The Destination: Mars, the Model: Mitzpe Ramon" by Ido Efrati and Gil Cohen Magen, Haaretz, February 19, 2018](https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/picoftheday/MAGAZINE-1.5828279)
- ["Bringing Mars to Mitzpe Ramon," in the "Science at a Glance" section on the Davidson Institute of Science Education website, by Itai Nevo, February 15, 2018](https://davidson.weizmann.ac.il/online/sciencepanorama/%D7%9C%D7%94%D7%91%D7%99%D7%90-%D7%90%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%A4%D7%94-%D7%A8%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%9F)
- [Israeli Scientists Complete Mock Mars Mission in Negev Desert, Reuters, February 18, 2018](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-israel-mars/israeli-scientists-complete-mock-mars-mission-in-negev-desert-idUSKCN1G20T5)
- [Avi Blizovsky, "We Felt Like on a Real Space Mission" – Photographic Coverage of the End of the First D-MARS Mission in the Ramon Crater, on the Ynet website, February 21, 2018](http://www.hayadan.org.il/d-mars-01-interviews-2102181)
- [Yael (Freund) Avraham, "Mars, Mitzpe Ramon: The Story of the Israeli 'Ramonauts'" on the Makor Rishon website](https://www.makorrishon.co.il/magazine/dyukan/23195/)