Toulouse. 7 ISAE-SUPAERO students “embark” on a mission to Mars
Since 2001, the American association “Mars Society” offers scientists and students the opportunity to join the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in the Utah desert to experience a Martian simulation mission.
For 3 weeks, the crew 263 of ISAE-SUPAERO will aim to serve companies, laboratories and researchers to advance advances in the field of space exploration.
Towards a feminization of the space sector
Symbol of the feminization of jobs in the space sector, crew 263 gives pride of place to women. Thus, it is 5 female students and 2 students from the Higher Institute of Aeronautics and Space (ISAE-SUPAERO) in Toulouse who will integrate, from next February 20, the research laboratory simulating an inhabited base on the planet March.
“The mission represents a real opportunity in our academic career, allowing us to experiment in the field and confront ourselves with research. We also share a lot with a young audience the challenges of our Martian life simulation mission through popularization. I hope that the participation of many girls in this crew will inspire some who are reluctant to embark on science,” comments Marine Prunier, the astronomer of mission 263.
Missions of scientific interest
The feedback and the improvement of the experimental protocols from year to year give a created reality to the mission of the students.
This year, the mission of crew 263 is to study and test new technologies dedicated to space exploration to prepare for future manned missions to the Moon and then to Mars.
By collaborating with companies, start-ups and research laboratories specialized in various scientific fields applied to space, the crew participates in future international missions, namely the return of Man to the Moon with NASA’s Artemis Mission and , in the longer term, the first step of Man on Mars.
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