Simulating a Mars landing in Hanksville, Utah
Hanksville, Utah isn’t Mars, but it’s resemblance to the red planet has made it a hot spot for teams of geologists, biologists and engineers from around the world who have been coming for more than a decade to simulate missions to the mysterious planet in hopes of providing critical research to for future trips to Mars.
Florian Commans, crew biologist and greenhab officier, of Crew 153, studies a collection of rocks near the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press
Bastien Mathurin, crew commander, of Crew 153, stands next to a planted Belgian flag outside the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press
Auriane Canesse, crew geologist and health and safety officer, of Crew 153, takes magnetic readings of the ground using a large rectangular apparatus near the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press
Auriane Canesse, crew geologist and health and safety officer, of Crew 153, studies a rock formation near the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press
Members of the crew at the Mars Desert Research Station travel by ATV as they simulate a mission on the red-toned, barren land near the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press
Crew members at the Mars Desert Research Station travels by ATV during simulated mission on the red-toned, barren land near the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press
Auriane Canesse, crew geologist and health and safety officer, of Crew 153, hikes up a hill and takes magnetic readings of the ground using a large rectangular apparatus near the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press
Florian Commans, crew biologist, of Crew 153, studies bacteria from a soil sample at the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press
Florian Commans, crew biologist, of Crew 153, studies bacteria from a soil sample at the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press
Auriane Canesse, crew geologist and health and safety officer, of Crew 153, hikes up a hill and takes magnetic readings of the ground using a large rectangular apparatus near the Mars Desert Research Station, in Hanksville, Utah.Rick Bowmer/The Associated Press