Planning to move to Mars? First test your skills in the desert

Even though we have to wait many years to be able to colonize Mars, our dreams can not be destroyed by a scant time scale. In 2018, six astronauts - especially dressed and equipped - go to the desert of Dhofar, Oman, to live as one might live on Mars.

According to scientists, the Dhofar desert is probably the closest place to the Red Planet, both on the surface and in its living conditions.

The team hopes to find out what life on the planet will be like for Earthlings!

However, it is not the first mission where astronauts simulate their presence on another planet. In recent years, other teams have already tested their capabilities by organizing similar missions. Among them, the best known places are an open pit mine in southern Spain, the Sahara Desert in Africa and glaciers in the Alps.

"We need to understand the capabilities and limits of our equipment and what people should do when they get there. This is our biggest mission," said Gernot Groemer, the president of the Austria Space Forum.

The mission, which is set to begin in February next year, will feature a drone, inflatable hydroponic greenhouse, some exploration robots and other scientific equipment.

The three-week trip of the six astronauts will leave them completely isolated, but will be monitored to maintain control of the mission.

This is not everything. To make this mission completely realistic, the signals between them will be sent ten minutes late to give a real life spike at planetary distance.

It is worth noting that in addition to the inhospitable conditions that astronauts may face on Mars, there are a number of other unknown challenges.

For example, according to scientists, at zero gravity, the sense of taste is completely different, as well as the reaction of our body to drugs. In addition, the temperature of the medium is very different from the normal conditions.

Nevertheless, the landscape of the desert is very similar to that of the Red Planet due to the salt domes.

The astronauts on the mission in question hope to understand whether or not it is worthwhile to think about colonizing the distant planet. Well, we have to wait for the results of the mission.