For a manned mission to Mars, there are numerous systems that must be designed for humans to live safely with all of their basic needs met at all times. Among the most important aspects will be the retention of suitable pressure and breathable air to sustain life. Also, due to the corrosive nature of the Martian dust, highly advanced airlock systems including airshowers and HEPA filters must be in place so that the interior of the habitat and necessary equipment is protected from any significant damage. There are multiple current airlocks that are used in different situations, which could be modified for use on Mars. The same is true of connecting tunnels to link different habitat modules. In our proposed Mars Analog Challenge, many of the airlock designs and procedures could be tested under simulated conditions to obtain further information without actually putting people at risk. Other benefits of a long-term study would be to test how the procedures affect air maintenance and whether they need to be modified prior to their implementation on Mars.

Analog Mars Research and Research Stations