Crew 16 (Arctic Wolves) officially began their simulation on Saturday (July 6th) at the Mars Society’s Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island in Nunavut territory.
Located near the 20-kilometer wide Haughton Crater, formed by a massive meteorite impact 31 million years ago, the analog station serves as an ideal environment for Mars mission simulations.
Led by Dr. Ilaria Cinelli, the 7-person international team is conducting important research and field studies to help prepare future astronauts for exploring the Red Planet.
Before starting their simulation, the crew organized the Flashline station with new equipment, additional supplies, and completed repairs on ATVs and power generators. They also collected water from local sources.
On the last pre-sim day, the “Wolves” enjoyed some rare sunny weather, taking a final open-air stroll around the Arctic tundra before “arriving on Mars.”
Earlier today, several Crew 16 members embarked on their first EVA outside the Flashline habitat, donning spacesuits and helmets to simulate an exploratory mission on Mars. The crew acclimated to their suits, navigating rocky and snowy terrain downhill from the station.
Michael Andrews, responsible for crew logistics, remarked on the Mars-like environment of Devon Island: “I have never experienced desolation like this in my life. The terrain felt otherworldly, with sparse patches of life.”
This EVA is just the first of many scientific missions for the Arctic Wolves, focusing on extensive research and exploration activities over the coming days.
For more information about the ongoing Flashline analog mission on Devon Island, including daily crew reports, visit: fmars.marssociety.org.
The Mars Society extends an invitation to attend a detailed presentation by members of Crew 16 about the Flashline analog mission during the 27th Annual International Mars Society Convention this August at the University of Washington in Seattle. The event can be attended in-person or virtually. To register for the 2024 convention, visit: marssociety.org.
Crew 16 Members:
- Ilaria Cinelli, PhD, FAsMA – Commander
- Tiffany Swarmer – Health and Safety Officer
- Terry Trevino – Executive Officer
- Natasha Nicholson, PhD – Chief Science Officer
- Rhett Woods – Mission Specialist
- Mason Robbins, MScR, PhD, FRSA – Crew Engineer
- Michael Andrews, CPIM – Crew Logistics
