BD wrote: Why does the Mars Society claim their (plywood) Mars Research Station in the Arctic (Haughton Crater) is "important research" and unique in any way? Every form of cold science researchhas been going on in Antarctica since the 1940's!!! If the Mars Society crews sent to Haugton Crater in the Arctic only spend the warmest part of the season there (pretending to be on Mars) - then why not spend the whole Arctic year? After all Mars is far colder.

Chris writes: First, a number of mistakes on your part. Foremost is this whole project is evolving and is not finished. We will increase fidelity as we also increase funding. Plywood is a good practices building material, but we only used it in flooring and partitions. The main building material used on Flashline Mars Analog Research Station (FMARS) is fiberglass. FMARS is unique in the Human Factors research that will be done. The assumption you are making is false. We are not interested in Devon Island because it is cold there. We aren't trying to create and study actual Mars conditions on Earth. That would require more money than we have. The geology of Devon Island offers a good analog with Mars. BTW we have another Hab which is used during the winter in the desert of Utah (MDRS). The Hab need only be a metaphor for a real Mars Hab at present the suits need only be a metaphor for real Mars Suits. We don't plan to dome Devon Island or any of or Habs and pump the air out or somehow reduce gravity there. You miss the point of the activities there if that is your thinking. You seem to not have a clue what human factors are or how important human to machine interface and human to other human interaction are.

BD wrote: While the scientists in the Antarctica don't were canvas spacesuits and fake space helmets to try and get public support and media attention, they do wear the appropriate warm gear to get them through all year. If you think what the Haughton team crews are doing is important to "Mars Research" then you ought to figure out that real "cold science" research has already been done for the last sixty years by researchers in Antarctica.

Chris writes: I have friends who have worked at the Antarctic bases...the buildings are made out of plywood and people do wear canvas down there (jeans). But, they also aren't doing any studies that directly relate to Mars exploration. They ask people to keep a very basic record of things they removed from the greenhouses, but don't keep track of other factors in food and water consumption. Sure there is research being done on Mars Exploration Factors and has been done but not at Antarctica. Biosphere II and the chamber at JSC have done more valid human factors, etc., than anywhere else.

BD wrote: Why settle for theatrics? If you want to play-act spaceman, why not get yourself into acting and movies? However, if you want to read about the real scientists -- men and women of many nations who dedicate their lives to studying the coldest environment on Earth, read the links provided here :

Chris writes: I find it offensive that you're trying to suggest the Mars Society has no scientist in it's members list, guess again. BTW, some of those Antarctic "real scientists" our members of the Mars Society! Try reading something about human factors and then get back to us.

--Chris Vancil