Wataire International is pleased to advise that we have received an initial review that our water-from-air units "performed very well" during the recent four-month mission at the Mars Society's Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS). It is the first time that a simulated Mars mission has ever been conducted for such a long duration.
In recent correspondence from Engineer Paul Graham, who set up the habitat systems, Wataire Consultant-Co-inventor Terrence Nylander, was advised of the successful utilization of the company's water-from-air units. During the mission, the Mars society, as part of its mission's science agenda, completed a "water utilization study," as water is one of the largest consumable masses on a long duration mission.
The purpose of this landmark expedition is to prepare for eventual human missions to the Red Planet by conducting scientific exploration under nearly all of the constraints that astronauts on an actual Mars mission will one day face.
Crew members included Commander and Geologist Melissa Battler; Executive Officer and Engineer Matt Bamsey (also Safety Officer); Chief Engineer James Harris (also Medical Officer); Chief Scientist and Computer Scientist Kim Binsted; Human Factors Researcher and Engineer Ryan Kobrick; Biologist Kathryn Bywaters; Geologist Simon Auclair; Engineer Emily Colvin, the crew alternate; and Engineer Team Coordinator Paul Graham, who set up habitat systems with Harris.
Graham went on to say that during transport the equipment received some initial damage but Graham concluded that "thanks to the spare parts your people so thoughtfully and carefully supplied, this damage was quickly corrected."
The Science agenda and mission training details of the project can be reviewed here.
Engineer Paul Graham concluded by thanking Wataire "for their generous donation" and promised a more detailed report from Chief Engineer James Harris and the mission's water specialist.
Nylander stated, "Wataire is very pleased to have taken part in this futuristic scientific project, and looks forward to more participation in the future as re-use of enclosed moisture in a Mars module will be critical to future space exploration."
