The Canadian side of the Arctic is so similar to Mars that initiatives like Mars One to make an Earth One expedition to prepare for travel to Mars. The region in question is specifically Devon Island, and it is the larges uninhabited island on Earth.
The Closest Thing to Earth One is the Haughton-Mars Project
The island is host to the Haughton-Mars Project, which is a field research project that is preparing for Martian exploration missions with human crew. The project was started in 1997, and it has had support from NASA ever since. Its location and extreme temperature make it a tough field, but it is the biggest research venture NASA has funded on Earth.
What Makes Devon Island Earth One Material?
The climate at Devon Island is cold and dry, though not as dry as the Red Planet. There’s no vegetation, no infrastructure and the ground is frozen and laden by glaciers. The nature of the terrain makes it so remote that feigning a Mars mission is easy. The area is even pierced by a glacier that’s 23 million years old, and can give insight as to early colonization of life on Earth.
The current research is hoping to give some leads to explain how Mars went from wet and warmer to cold and dry. The researchers believe it has always been warm, but further research is naturally necessary to say for sure.
This Place Should Be the Test Drive to Martian Exploration
It’s possible that if this center continues to provide valuable research that NASA sends their astronauts to train here. Though they won’t exactly be affected by temperature and other atmospheric factors, it can give some valuable insight as to why Mars is the way it is, and how it will evolve. Mars One should surely consider a venture like Earth One.
