Mars Desert Research Station to be Exhibited at Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex

This summer the Mars Society's second analog habitat, the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), will be exhibited at the Kennedy Space Center visitors complex. The exhibit is scheduled to open July 1 and will run through the labor day long weekend.

The Mars Desert Research Station was fabricated for the Mars Society by Built on Integrity (BOI), of Boulder City Nevada. Founded by Scott Fisher, of the Fisher Space Pen company, a longtime supporter of space exploration in general and the Mars society in particular, BOI has developed a proprietary construction technology combining a steel frame, foam core, and elastomeric skin to produce an ultra lightweight structure with extremely effective insulation properties. The MDRS used this technology to produce a station that is the same size as the fiberglass honeycomb Flashline Station, but which weighs less than half as much. The Mars society intends to take advantage of the lightweight nature of the MDRS to make it mobile, moving it to support exploration at several different desert locations in the course of its operating lifetime. Engineering support for the design of the MDRS is being provided by the University of Nevada in Las Vegas

The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) will be deployed in a Mars analog desert environment in the American southwest this September, and will support field operations during the fall, winter, and spring.

In conjunction with the opening of the exhibit we will be launching a new web site dedicated to the Mars Desert Research Station. As well sponsor opportunities are available. You can have your companies logo on the habitat and we are looking for a signature sponsor to name the habitat. If you are interested in sponsor opportunities please contact Dr. Robert Zubrin.

Erection of the habitat at KSC is complete. Work begins on ramp to the habitat. Habitat panels are unloaded for construction at the Kennedy Space Center visitors complex. Erection of the habitat begins. First floor and supports are erected. A view of the shuttle mockup from the habitat first floor. Supports for the second floor are installed. Workers hard at work. The habitat starts to take shape. A view from one of the habitat 'windows'. The completed habitat at the Las Vegas factory before shipping to KSC. A view looking looking out of the habitat at the Las Vegsa factory. A look at the first floor before it is outfitted with equipment. A view of the second floor ceiling. A view of the first floor ceiling Frank Schubert and Dr. Robert Zubrin pose at the factory in Las Vegas

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Mars Desert Research Station