Reuters Full Focus

Mars in the desert

Mar 11, 2013 14:02 UTC

Photographer Jim Urquhart traveled into the Utah desert to document the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) where a crew of scientists work, study and live together in conditions designed to simulate being on Mars. The MDRS aims to investigate the feasibility of a human exploration to the red planet and uses the Utah desert’s Mars-like terrain to test working conditions and study geology. All outdoor exploration is done wearing spacesuits and carrying air supply packs and crews live together in a small communication base with limited amounts of electricity, food, oxygen and water. Everything needed to survive must be produced, fixed and replaced on site. Read Jim's personal account here. 31 PHOTOS

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