JERUSALEM, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israel will host an international simulation project of planet Mars in October 2020, as announced Monday by the Israel Space Agency at the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF).
The simulation will take place near the town of Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev Desert in southern Israel, and will involve 6 astronauts, one of whom is Israeli.
The event will take place as part of the "AMADEE" research program of the Austrian Space Forum.
The purpose of the program is to develop hardware, workflows and science towards future human-robotic planetary surface missions.
A new field mission is established every two to three years within the framework of the program, and a country is chosen in which it will take place. In 2018, the mission was held in Oman.
According to the Israeli-Austrian statement, Mitzpe Ramon area is similar to that of Mars which will enable the exploration of various aspects of the planet in an authentic environment.
A geodesic dome will be built in the area, simulating astronaut residence with life support systems, a research station, antennas and solar energy sources.
The astronauts will be isolated from the world for three weeks, traveling around in space suits on rover space-exploring vehicles and conducting scientific research.
Israel's Minister of Science Ofir Akunis said that the simulation will have scientific value and even touristic value for Israel's breathtaking landscapes, adding that "it will advance our glorious space industry."
