Purdue Mars Desert Research Station Crews
ABOUT MARS DESERT RESEARCH STATION
ABOUT MARS DESERT RESEARCH STATION
The cradle of astronauts, Purdue University has also been very active in analog astronautics. 7 crews from Purdue University have visited a Mars-like analog facility created by the Mars Society at Hanksville, Utah. For the year 2024-25, Purdue has two crews going to this analog facility called the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). The crew members selected from different departments of Purdue will be performing research at MDRS that is aimed at advancing human exploration of Mars. The crew members would need to be physically and mentally fit and strong to conduct research in tough conditions and under isolation.
The cradle of astronauts, Purdue University has also been very active in analog astronautics. 7 crews from Purdue University have visited a Mars-like analog facility created by the Mars Society at Hanksville, Utah. For the year 2024-25, Purdue has two crews going to this analog facility called the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). The crew members selected from different departments of Purdue will be performing research at MDRS that is aimed at advancing human exploration of Mars. The crew members would need to be physically and mentally fit and strong to conduct research in tough conditions and under isolation.
First Crew: December 8 - December 21, 2024
First Crew: December 8 - December 21, 2024
Second Crew: December 22, 2024 - January 4, 2025
Second Crew: December 22, 2024 - January 4, 2025
The following costs that the Mars Society would need to be paid to confirm any crew member.
The following costs that the Mars Society would need to be paid to confirm any crew member.
Crew Deposit: $250 for each crew member
Crew Deposit: $250 for each crew member
Student Registration Fee: $2000 for each such crew member
Student Registration Fee: $2000 for each such crew member
Professional/Recent Graduate Registration Fee: $3500 for each such crew member
Professional/Recent Graduate Registration Fee: $3500 for each such crew member
APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLICATION PROCESS
The applications for rotations in 2024-25 are now open. Application deadline extended to April 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM EDT.
The applications for rotations in 2024-25 are now open. Application deadline extended to April 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM EDT.
ROLES
ROLES
Commander: The Commander gets the glory, but they are also responsible for the overall safety, organization and management of the mission. This means that they need to be in charge from the inception of the mission, by working on the planning and development of the crew’s goals and how to accomplish them. They are responsible for the crew’s logistics before, during and after the mission, although sometimes they turn some of those responsibilities over to the XO. The commander is the person held accountable for all things related to the mission, and is in command of all things while at MDRS, although they still need to respect the overall authority of MDRS staff and the HSO in health and safety matters. Commanders almost always will have prior successful MDRS experience, but can also have gained their leadership skills in their own field and/or via school and field experience. Commanders must have demonstrated leadership and experience in remote or challenging field areas.
Commander: The Commander gets the glory, but they are also responsible for the overall safety, organization and management of the mission. This means that they need to be in charge from the inception of the mission, by working on the planning and development of the crew’s goals and how to accomplish them. They are responsible for the crew’s logistics before, during and after the mission, although sometimes they turn some of those responsibilities over to the XO. The commander is the person held accountable for all things related to the mission, and is in command of all things while at MDRS, although they still need to respect the overall authority of MDRS staff and the HSO in health and safety matters. Commanders almost always will have prior successful MDRS experience, but can also have gained their leadership skills in their own field and/or via school and field experience. Commanders must have demonstrated leadership and experience in remote or challenging field areas.
Executive Officer (XO): The XO’s role shifts slightly depending on the style of leadership used by the Commander. Often XO’s are in charge of the logistics prior to a mission and the day-to-day schedule while at MDRS. Not all crews require an XO and an XO should never be selected simply because a person has no other role they can fill. The XO needs to be able to deal fairly and justly with all crewmembers and support the Commander’s decisions in overall mission planning. An XO should have prior logistic skills and experience in small group leadership.
Executive Officer (XO): The XO’s role shifts slightly depending on the style of leadership used by the Commander. Often XO’s are in charge of the logistics prior to a mission and the day-to-day schedule while at MDRS. Not all crews require an XO and an XO should never be selected simply because a person has no other role they can fill. The XO needs to be able to deal fairly and justly with all crewmembers and support the Commander’s decisions in overall mission planning. An XO should have prior logistic skills and experience in small group leadership.
Health and Safety Officer (HSO): The role of the HSO is dependent on the applicant’s skill level. They must have, at minimum, 16 hours of in person training that resulted in current certification in first aid and CPR. They must provide proof of this prior to their crew’s arrival at MDRS. First responder training is preferred and EMT’s, nurses and doctors are highly desired. This position is also responsible for the operational safety of the crew and the campus.
Health and Safety Officer (HSO): The role of the HSO is dependent on the applicant’s skill level. They must have, at minimum, 16 hours of in person training that resulted in current certification in first aid and CPR. They must provide proof of this prior to their crew’s arrival at MDRS. First responder training is preferred and EMT’s, nurses and doctors are highly desired. This position is also responsible for the operational safety of the crew and the campus.
Crew Engineer: The role of the Crew Engineer is the most misunderstood of all the positions at MDRS. The Crew Engineer is responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of the station, its buildings and systems. The person in this position has to think proactively and be able to think like a Martian in terms of active response to the physical environment at MDRS. In order for daily activities to proceed as scheduled, the crew engineer needs to routinely monitor the equipment being used by the crew and make sure it is ready for whatever is planned. In addition, when systems fail, the crew engineer needs to diagnosis the problem and contact Mission Support with a plan for solving the problem. While the Crew Engineer generally has an engineering background, experience proactively maintaining functionally of a large facility and/or project is more important that actual engineering skills.
Crew Engineer: The role of the Crew Engineer is the most misunderstood of all the positions at MDRS. The Crew Engineer is responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of the station, its buildings and systems. The person in this position has to think proactively and be able to think like a Martian in terms of active response to the physical environment at MDRS. In order for daily activities to proceed as scheduled, the crew engineer needs to routinely monitor the equipment being used by the crew and make sure it is ready for whatever is planned. In addition, when systems fail, the crew engineer needs to diagnosis the problem and contact Mission Support with a plan for solving the problem. While the Crew Engineer generally has an engineering background, experience proactively maintaining functionally of a large facility and/or project is more important that actual engineering skills.
GreenHab Officer: This person is responsible for keeping the crops alive and thriving in the GreenHab, as well as the overall maintenance and monitoring of the GreenHab’s environmental controls. GreenHab Officers can have experience in biology and/or gardening. Professional experience growing plants in crop production and greenhouse management is highly desired. If they do not have this experience, they will be required to take a 16-hour online course offered by us. Volunteer experience at an in-person farm/plant nursery/plant research position can be considered in place of this course, but you will have to take and pass the exam from the course.
GreenHab Officer: This person is responsible for keeping the crops alive and thriving in the GreenHab, as well as the overall maintenance and monitoring of the GreenHab’s environmental controls. GreenHab Officers can have experience in biology and/or gardening. Professional experience growing plants in crop production and greenhouse management is highly desired. If they do not have this experience, they will be required to take a 16-hour online course offered by us. Volunteer experience at an in-person farm/plant nursery/plant research position can be considered in place of this course, but you will have to take and pass the exam from the course.
Crew Scientist, Crew Geologist, Crew Biologist: The role of a scientist on the crew is to conduct research and maintain the ScienceDome and its equipment. They generally plan the crew’s EVAs based on their research goals. They must have pre-approval from their home institution for any studies done at MDRS. This is particularly important if the scientist is studying human factors. All human factors research is required to be approved by the home institution’s IRB, even if it doesn’t require an IRB. In that case, simple proof that it was reviewed and an IRB was not deemed necessary is all that is needed for the research.
Crew Scientist, Crew Geologist, Crew Biologist: The role of a scientist on the crew is to conduct research and maintain the ScienceDome and its equipment. They generally plan the crew’s EVAs based on their research goals. They must have pre-approval from their home institution for any studies done at MDRS. This is particularly important if the scientist is studying human factors. All human factors research is required to be approved by the home institution’s IRB, even if it doesn’t require an IRB. In that case, simple proof that it was reviewed and an IRB was not deemed necessary is all that is needed for the research.
Crew Astronomer: The crew astronomer must have both experience using a telescope and a research project that has been approved by the MDRS Astronomy Team. They will also need to take an online course in order to proceed. They will work with the Director of Observatories prior to their arrival at MDRS to complete the requirements of this position.
Crew Astronomer: The crew astronomer must have both experience using a telescope and a research project that has been approved by the MDRS Astronomy Team. They will also need to take an online course in order to proceed. They will work with the Director of Observatories prior to their arrival at MDRS to complete the requirements of this position.
Crew Journalist: The Crew Journalist is responsible for the daily reports and photos sent from MDRS. This included a daily Journalist Report that is a record of your crew’s daily life, but they should also be the organizer for the crew’s media efforts. Professional writing experience is preferred.
Crew Journalist: The Crew Journalist is responsible for the daily reports and photos sent from MDRS. This included a daily Journalist Report that is a record of your crew’s daily life, but they should also be the organizer for the crew’s media efforts. Professional writing experience is preferred.
Crew Artist/Artist in Residence: We welcome student and professional artists in all disciplines, including but not limited to fine art, graphic art, photography, film, journalism, and writing. In order to qualify as Artist-In-Residence, you must demonstrate that you make your living in that field or that you are an art major at university. The final decision on whether that person qualifies as Artist-in-Residence belongs to MDRS.
Crew Artist/Artist in Residence: We welcome student and professional artists in all disciplines, including but not limited to fine art, graphic art, photography, film, journalism, and writing. In order to qualify as Artist-In-Residence, you must demonstrate that you make your living in that field or that you are an art major at university. The final decision on whether that person qualifies as Artist-in-Residence belongs to MDRS.
POST SELECTION EXPECTATIONS
POST SELECTION EXPECTATIONS
If you get selected as a primary or a backup member, you would be required to attend the necessary training and meetings to get better prepared for your mission at MDRS. You would be working in sub-teams comprising primary, backup, Purdue MDRS interns/volunteers, Purdue Mission Control, and other relevant members for your particular research. You would also be required to deposit MDRS registration and security deposit fee soon.
If you get selected as a primary or a backup member, you would be required to attend the necessary training and meetings to get better prepared for your mission at MDRS. You would be working in sub-teams comprising primary, backup, Purdue MDRS interns/volunteers, Purdue Mission Control, and other relevant members for your particular research. You would also be required to deposit MDRS registration and security deposit fee soon.
CONTACT
CONTACT
In case you have any questions and/or concerns please get in touch with us via purduemdrscrews@gmail.com.
In case you have any questions and/or concerns please get in touch with us via purduemdrscrews@gmail.com.