In Brazil, in a semiarid portion of Rio Grande do Norte state, is operating a Mars analog research station, Habitat Marte. The station Habitat Marte is the only Mars analog habitat in operation in South hemisphere. Since December, 2017 just happened 25 missions with 600 hours, 74 participants and more than 50 days.
The last mission (25th) in Habitat Marte occurred during December, 20thand 21stwith Extraveicular Activities in Cabugi Vulcano focusing to collect basalt.
Cabugi Peak is located in the central region of Rio Grande do Norte state, in northeastern Brazil. Geologically, Cabugi Peak is an extinct 590-meter-high volcano, with an age of 19 million years consisting of its basalt summit.
Basalt is also common to the moon and Mars. Basaltic formations, common to volcanic areas, have been a source of research to identify whether this raw material can be used to develop a Mars-like soil.
For Mars soil simulation research, one of the components is basalt. Basaltic soil is widely available near the Habitat Mars research station, in the extinct volcano Cabugi, 46 km away. This feature contributes to the development of studies on the formulation of a soil analogous to Mars in Brazil.
Research on Martian soil simulation reveals its importance in seeking to evaluate how the development and behavior of plants in these soils will be, in order to evaluate the cultivation of food that will allow the feeding of future settlements on Mars and the moon.
Future research will answer how analogous to Mars is the rock and soils collected in Cabugi volcano.
The research is developed by Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte – UFRN and University of Brasilia – UnB.
The Habitat Marte is looking for opportunities of partnerships. Coordinator: Prof. Julio Rezende – juliofdrezende@hotmail.com
www.HabitatMarte.com.
