MARSCRAFT WBA

Project description:

World’s Biggest Analog is a space simulation mission organized by the Austrian Space Forum, Lunares, NASA, and other partners. Simulations will be conducted simultaneously at a minimum of 12 different locations worldwide, with an expected participation of over 60 individuals, i.e., analog astronauts. During the mission, various studies can be conducted, and biological samples from participants can be collected and analyzed.

The superordinate goal of the WBA is to find solutions to the question of how humans can live and work in space in the future. The project aims to gather the necessary knowledge and advance space research.

World's Biggest Analog (WBA) is a global project focused on the exploration of foreign habitats. This includes analyzing alien environments, minimizing the challenges they present, and documenting the results and observations. In the future, habitats and settlements will be established on the Moon, Mars, and their orbits by various nations, private companies, and government agencies. WBA simulates these settlements by conducting an international mission in analog habitats worldwide in 2025. The analog mission will take place simultaneously in each habitat, allowing a study to be conducted twelve times identically and concurrently. For more information about the mission, please visit the following website: www.worldsbiggestanalog.com

The research project "Job and home crafting on Mars – and how it affects astronauts’ well-being and performance," called MARSCRAFT, investigates the daily application and impact of 'Job Crafting,' 'Home Crafting,' and 'Team Crafting' on the health, well-being, and performance of astronauts during Mars missions.

Job crafting is the proactive design of one's own job in order to align it with personal skills, competencies and interests.

Home crafting refers to the adjustments that people make in their private sphere to better accommodate their personal needs and abilities.

Team crafting describes the self-designed collaboration within a team in order to improve the necessary resources and successfully accomplish tasks.

Due to the high level of autonomy astronauts have on long-duration missions due to delayed communication with Earth, they can demonstrate proactive behaviors that are important for coping with stress and maintaining a good work-life balance. This autonomy allows astronauts to independently adapt their working and living conditions to better accommodate their personal needs and abilities. By applying these crafting strategies, the long-term health and motivation of astronauts can be promoted, which is crucial for the success of long-term missions, such as to Mars.

The results should contribute to the development of targeted interventions and training programs that help astronauts to better integrate their individual needs and abilities into their everyday work and life, thus increasing mission efficiency and safety.

Project Partners:

Agencies and Habitats:

Austrian Space Forum (Austrian Space Forum - ÖWF/OeWF)
The Austrian Space Forum is one of the leading institutions carrying out Mars analogue missions and thus paving the way for future human exploration of the Red Planet. Experts from a wide range of disciplines and from the space sector form the core of the OeWF's ongoing work. The OeWF works in co-operation with national and international institutions from science and industry at the forefront of scientific research. In addition, the OeWF makes a significant contribution to inspiring and educating young people in the fields of science, technology and engineering.

The OeWF conducts interdisciplinary research at the highest level. The Forum specialises in space science, (human) Mars exploration, Earth observation and astrobiology. The work is published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at scientific conferences and communicated to both experts and the public. In addition, the Austrian Space Forum forms an interface for the Austrian space industry. It builds bridges between the space industry, science, political institutions, decision-makers and opinion leaders as well as the public. The OeWF is an independent and competent contact point within the Austrian and European space sector. It initiates, supports and networks careers. The forum offers student internships, project participation, mentors graduates at universities and enables participation in research and development projects. More information about the OeWF can be found on the following website: oewf.org/en/about-the-oewf/

Iceland Space Agency

The mission of the Iceland Space Agency (ISA) is to advance research and innovation initiatives in Iceland, provide advice on space policy, and coordinate operational logistics and research support between international organizations, academic institutions, the government, and the private sector. This includes, in particular, areas such as space and Earth observation, exploration, and commercial activities related to Iceland and its surroundings. For more information about ISA, please visit the following website: Iceland Space Agency 

Astroland Agency

Astroland is a private spaceflight company in Spain specializing in the development of missions in analog environments. The focus is on technologies and capabilities for Mars habitats, psychology, and survival in isolation and hostile conditions. The company has established the Ares Station, an analog habitat for humans within a cave. There, potential life forms are tested, and it is assessed whether humans can survive in missions that simulate conditions outside Earth. For more information about Astroland Agency, please visit the following website: Astroland Interplanetary Agency 

Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS)

The Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) is a Mars-analog research station in Canada operated by the Mars Society. The station contributes to the development of the necessary skills for Mars to enable productive field research during extended stays. Its long-term goal is to support the training of Mars astronauts. For more information about FMARS, please visit the following website: Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station

Hawai’i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS)

The Hawai‘i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) is an analog space research station located in an isolated, Mars- and Moon-like environment on the island of Hawai‘i. The station is operated by the International MoonBase Alliance and serves to research Mars and Moon missions. For more information about HI-SEAS, please visit the following website: HI-SEAS

Lunares

LunAres is a leading private analog laboratory in Poland, established in 2017 for simulating crewed space missions. The simulation laboratory specializes in simulating Moon and Mars missions. Their primary focus is on advancing scientific and technological research in human spaceflight. LunAres brings together experts from medicine, psychology, robotics, engineering, and space architecture, enabling a multidisciplinary approach in their studies. They concentrate on human factors in space missions and the development of innovative, sustainable technologies. For more information about LunAres, please visit the following website: Lunares Space – LunArese Research Station

Analog Astronaut Training Center (AATC)

The AATC is a Polish analog astronaut training center. It focuses on conducting specialized bioastronautical training and scientific research related to human spaceflight. Additionally, the AATC includes a simulation laboratory for simulating spaceflight environments for scientific experiments in the fields of space biology and medicine. For more information about AATC, please visit the following website: About - Analog Astronaut Training Center

Habitat Marte

Habitat Marte is an innovative research and education facility in Brazil that simulates Mars-like conditions to prepare for future Mars missions. The station provides a platform for scientific research, technology testing, and studies on human factors.

Hydronaut

Hydronaut DeepLab is a research and training station designed for both short and long-term stays of small groups underwater and on the surface. Various research activities are conducted here, including studying the effects of isolation and extreme conditions on the human psyche and the performance of technologies in extreme environments. The station is used for many purposes: from research and training programs to medical and psychological studies under pressure, as well as the development and testing of new technologies. For more information about Hydronaut, please visit the following website: About Us | Project (hydronaut.eu) 

Desert Mars Analog Ramon Station (D-MARS)

D-MARS is a Mars analog mission taking place in the Israeli desert. The mission site, a valley resembling the impact craters of Mars, features geological characteristics and aridity similar to those of Mars. The model base camp is designed to simulate life on Mars. During previously conducted missions, experiments have been carried out in various disciplines, including physics, soil studies, microbiology, psychology, agriculture, water supply, and engineering. D-MARS - Wikipedia 

Space Analog for the Moon and Mars (SAM)

SAM is a fully sealed habitat at the University of Arizona designed to explore the challenges of living and working beyond Earth. By isolating research teams in a sealed environment, SAM enables comprehensive studies of mechanical and plant-based life support systems, plant biology, bioregeneration, and food supply. Additionally, it tests the use of tools in spacesuits, EVA operations, as well as rover and drone activities. The analog also investigates the challenges of isolation and interpersonal interactions. Space Analog for the Moon and Mars