The long-duration simulated Mars mission on Devon Island, Nunavut, operated smoothly for four months, quadrupling the previous record for an active Mars mission simulation. The Canadian-American crew of the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) conducted a comprehensive program of geological and microbiological field exploration in the island’s Mars-like polar desert, 900 miles from the North Pole, all the while operating under many of the same constraints that human explorers would face on Mars. By doing so, they have learned from direct experience many lessons that will be of critical value when human explorers actually set foot on the red planet.

This expedition was unique in that the crewmembers were able to maintain a rigorous simulation for an unprecedented period of time, collecting invaluable human factors data. Seven human factors experiments were completed, including comprehensive sleep and exercise studies. The crew also operated on the Martian 'sol', which is 39 minutes longer than the 24 hour Earth day, for over a month, to see if there were any negative effects on crew psychophysiology or mission operations.

"The work that this crew has done will contribute to studies of Mars and to studies of the response of permafrost on Earth to global warming," said the mission’s remote science principal investigator Chris McKay, of NASA Ames. "Their pioneering simulation of crew operations on Mars time is by far the best work on this topic ever done. It sets the standard for future Mars mission simulations such as the proposed European Space Agency 500 day mission."

Despite the tight quarters and tough living conditions, the crew coped remarkably well, and completed a wide range of field research safely and efficiently. In particular, they gathered data on microbial life in soil, snow and lakes, characterizing the changes as the Arctic season shifts from spring into summer. They also compared geological features seen on Mars, such as polygonal patterns and "weeping cliffs," with similar features found on Devon Island, in order to better understand conditions on the red planet.

FMARS is located on the rim of 39 million year old Haughton Impact Crater. This location is particularly well-suited for the science conducted because a lake filled this crater shortly after impact, thus creating a suitable environment for life to flourish. Similar processes might have occurred on Mars, in similar polar desert environments, thus making Haughton Crater an ideal analogue for Mars.

The crew has conducted six Mars Remote Education ("Mars Ed") events with five summer camp groups across Canada and with the International Space School at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Daily reports and photos sent back by the crew are posted on the Mars Society website. A complete report on the historic mission will be presented by the crew in person at the 10th International Mars Society Convention, which will be held August 30-Sept 2, 2007 at UCLA, Los Angeles. Registration for the convention is now open.