NASA considering Norway's Svalbard islands for Mars research

Spacedaily.com ^ | 06/07/03

[KevinDavis]

The US space agency NASA is considering using Norway's Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean as a testing ground for future expeditions to Mars, Norwegian daily Aftenposten reported on Monday.

NASA officials are keen to use the area to test robotic equipment and to train astronauts who would make the trip to Mars in the future, the paper said, quoting experts as saying that the Svalbard landscape resembles that of Mars.

[KevinDavis]

Looks like something is up regarding Mars.

[KevinDavis]

Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!

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[RightWhale]

There's already significant research of similar nature going on in Canada, or maybe NASA would prefer to ignore anything that doesn't have the NASA seal on it.

[JRandomFreeper]

experts as saying that the Svalbard landscape resembles that of Mars.

Except for the atmosphere, wind speeds, gravity, and moisture in the air.

/john

[martian_22]

Keep practicing boys. See ya soon.
BTW Send more probes they're delicious.

[kiriath_jearim]

If a Norwegian astronaut is ever sent to Mars, will the international headlines read "Lars On Mars!!"?

[KevinDavis]

That would be the Mars Society...

[azcap]

My favorite Norwegian was Thor Heyerdahl http://www.greatdreams.com/thor.htm 
I must have read Kon Tiki ten times when I was a kid. Perhaps NASA is planning to build a balsa wood craft to sail to Mars thus proving the Martian colonization of South America. With their recent track record building with balsa wood is probably a good idea for NASA. The first man on Mars will be decked out in a spacesuit with more corporate logos than a NASCAR car and will be there trying to make his stock options pay off. Privatize Space.