I wrote here previously about the Kickstarter campaign to fund development of the game Space Pioneer by Space Enigma Studios. Since then they have posted Updates on the project and they have a new video as well:
Category Archives: Simulators
Video: A report from the Mars Desert Research Station
In this video journalist Elizabeth Howell reports on the activities of Crew 133, which is currently carrying out a Mars mission simulation at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah: Video Update from MDRS – The Mars Society
Space Pioneer – A game created by real world astronauts, scientists & architects.
A Kickstarter crowd-funding campaign opened today for the game Space Pioneer, which was created by a team that includes three cosmonauts: Space Pioneer by Space Enigma Studios — Kickstarter
Our team consists of world famous astronauts, engineers, designers, programmers, artists and architects who allow us to construct a game that will be the most accurate virtual representation of our universe to date. Space Pioneer aims to be a game that is uncompromisingly entertaining and educational. Our game chiefly focuses on interstellar exploration; it is based on images and resources from the Hubble telescope, ESA/NASA, and numerous well known observatories. The player will be able to pilot a fully customizable spaceship into the vast regions of our universe and can colonize other planets beyond our solar system. In addition, he or she can research different scientifically accurate theories to upgrade their spaceship, build vast space stations and terra-form inhospitable planets.
The project is described in this video:
Space Engine simulator update
There is a new version available of the Space Engine simulation program:
SpaceEngine – a free space simulation program that lets you explore the universe in three dimensions, from planet Earth to the most distant galaxies. Areas of the known universe are represented using actual astronomical data, while regions uncharted by astronomy are generated procedurally. Millions of galaxies, trillions of stars, countless planets – all available for exploration. You can land any planet, moon or asteroid and watch alien landscapes and celestial phenomena. You can even pilot starships and atmospheric shuttles.Version 0.9.7.1 released!
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For more such sims, see the HobbySpace Simulations section.
Mars Society kicks off a new field season at Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS)
The Mars Society begins another round of crews staying at the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah:
Kick-Off of the 2013-14 MDRS Field Season
The Mars Society is pleased to announced the beginning of the 2013-14 Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) Field Season, with crew 131 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University arriving earlier today at the Mars hab in southern Utah. A chilly start to the field season has the MDRS facility covered in snow and ice with temperatures well below freezing.
Enclosed please find the first Commander Report (Crew 131) written by Chelsea Iwig:
Commander Report (12/07/13)
Crew 131 arrived on Mars today after a long journey from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. Upon arrival the crew immediately began
settling into their rooms, cleaning the Hab and organizing the laboratory and upstairs living area. Two crew members went to get the food and supplies for the crew’s two-week stay on the Red Planet. Once the supplies were brought back, they were inventoried and organized in the upstairs cabinets. Currently, the crew is finishing up making dinner and writing reports.
Tomorrow Crew 131 will be officially entering sim (simulation) after some outdoor orientation activities and a crew photo. The crew will also be making all final preparations for the studies they will be conducting while on Mars. These studies include a usability study on an aeroponics device that was built by students in the Human Factors undergraduate program at Embry-Riddle as well as a usability study on a pair of space suit gloves provided by a private space suit design company called Final Frontier Design.
Additionally, the crew will be conducting an exercise study looking at the effect of exercise on stress and mood as well as a sleep pattern study looking at how the crew’s sleep patterns change when in an isolated and confined environment. Finally, the last study will involve testing out a variety of behavioral questionnaires to determine which are best for monitoring crew function and cohesion. Data collection for these studies will begin on Monday.
Overall, the crew is settling in to their new home for the next two weeks and is excited to begin their research. The crew is also eagerly awaiting the opportunity to explore Mars in their first EVA, which will be on Monday.
For regular updates about our MDRS crews and their research, please visit the MDRS Facebook page. Also consider joining our MDRS Twitter feed: @MDRSupdates.