Space Analog Missions
What are space analogs? Why are they important? and more in this post …
Habitat Marte is a space analog station ~100km west of Natal, Brazil that I began participating in earlier this summer and was my starting point into the world of space analogs.
Now, let’s start at the very beginning:
Q. What is a space analog mission?
Time-bound close quarters exploratory missions made to simulate the hostile conditions in space habitats (think the ISS or a human settlement on Mars) are called space analog missions. They are used to research methods, protocols, human psychological response and nascent technology by mimicking the variables that one would expect in space habitats i.e. they are designed to be an analog to them.
Q. Why have space analog missions?
Our best way to prepare for life in space (whether it’s a space station or a human colony on another planet), is to practice on Earth by simulating expected conditions. It allows us to anticipate challenges and shortcomings of current approaches and technology. Since we won’t get second chances in space, you want to get as many things right from the start as you possibly can.
I’ve listed a few focus areas of previous analog missions here:
- Testing A/R medical procedures and the limits of remote medicine
- Designing ISRU systems that augment oxygen and water supplies
- Studying the influence of prolonged social isolation on the human psyche
- Designing physical and mental wellness protocols
- Testing closed loop habitation systems with sustainable food production
Q. Varsha - you’re not an astronaut - why would you care?
I’m not an astronaut - this is true. My growth mindset wants to respond with - not yet! But seriously, space habitats and remote, hostile habitats on Earth - imagine a research station in Antarctica - are just that: remote and hostile. Help is far away, and in many cases, not a viable option. Activities that are critical to existence need to be extra predictable and extra dull. Analog missions serve as ripe testing grounds and data gathering resources for researchers, astronauts, technologists, engineers and doctors. All of this is extra relevant in the era of climate change. It is not a far stretch to imagine remote and hostile environments on Earth that are the result of the impact of climate change on particularly vulnerable regions. Learnings from analog missions about say, aquaponics or remote medicine, could easily result in technological breakthroughs for terrestrial applications.
Q. But why should you - Varsha - care?
As a product person and an AI practitioner, I care about building empathy for my customer - Product 101. Understand your customer’s needs by stepping into their shoes and feeling their pain points as your own. In each of my experiences as an analog mission astronaut, I learnt new and valuable things that I can use in the future when building solutions, implementing ideas and strategizing product offerings. Some of these might be space related - others might be peripheral or adjacent. As you can see, analog missions cover the gamut of industry verticals - and are ripe ground for cross-pollination!
Q. Did you do it because you get called an analog mission astronaut?
Maybe. It really is rather cool!
Q. Are there other analog missions?
Yes! And they are all over the world. This is a non-exhaustive list:
| Habitat | Studying |
|---|---|
| Habitat Marte | Food production and geological similarity |
| Hera | Isolation and confinement |
| Hi-Seas | Isolation and geological similarity |
| MDRS | Isolation and geological similarity |
| NEEMO | Undersea analog for space exploration |
| CAVES | Behavioural adaptations in high risk underground terrain |
| FMARS | Geological similarity |