5. Aouda Workshop Katsdorf
6.-8. November 2009
Since the prototype of the Aouda spacesuit simulator had been tested several times in the last few weeks, many ideas for optimization have arisen – hence, the suit team met from 6th to 8th of November in Katsdorf (Upper Austria) to further the evolution of the prototype and to come up with new ideas.
The goal of this workshop was to determine the further course of action considering the On-Board Data Handling, including e.g. displays, communication protocols and temperature sensors; the process of applying microspherules onto the suits surface and of cleaning the contaminated areas. “In order to increase the suits ergonomic , our team came to the conclusion that consulting an ergo-therapist could provide answers to this issue.”, Vanessa Fillafer from the contamination science team explained.Preceding tests have been reviewed and analyized and dates for several upcoming integration workshops and another test on a glacier in next year’s spring time have been set. Also the team tried to find a storage and maintenance facility to host the suit equipment and to think of better ways of transportation to the testing areas.
We also had the chance to take a first look at the brand-new ÖWF overalls that were sponsored by Fair Rescue. "The design is absolutely fabulous”, Gernot Groemer, the Aouda project manager, commented on the new working gear. This workshop again was very informative, productive and of course entertaining and the team would like to thank Eva and Stefan Hauth for hosting the event.
New ÖWF overalls
Eva Hauth in one of the overalls
Hard working during workshop
Discussions
PolAres Schedule Update
Between 01 - 28. February 2013, the Austrian Space Forum will conduct an integrated Mars analog field simulation in the northern Sahara near Erfoud, Morocco. Directed by a Mission Support Center in Austria, a small field crew will conduct experiments preparing for future human Mars missions mainly in the fields of engineering, planetary surface operations, astrobiology, geophysics/geology, life sciences and other.
This field mission is supported by the Ibn-Battuta-Center at the University of Marrakesh, Morocco. The Austrian Space Forum now solicitates proposals to be reviewed by a selection panel. The deadline for submissions is 15. June 2012, the announcement of the successful experiments will be released on 15. July 2012.
Detail
The analysis of Mars analogue environments on Earth is of paramount importance for the interpretation of the data from past, present and future orbital and landed missions, as well as mission planning (both robotic and human). Sedimentary environments in particular attract strong interest because they can retain the palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental history of the planet and under the right conditions may harbour fossil or present life signatures.
Date: 25. - 27. October 2012
Location: Conference Centre of the Hotel Meridien N'Fis at Marrakech, Morocco Organization: European Space Agency, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, International Association of Sedimentologits, Ibn Battuta Centre, IRSPS, Universite Cadi Ayyad.
Between 01 - 28. February 2013, the Austrian Space Forum will conduct an integrated Mars analog field simulation in the northern Sahara near Erfoud, Morocco. Directed by a Mission Support Center in Austria, a small field crew will conduct experiments preparing for future human Mars missions mainly in the fields of engineering, planetary surface operations, astrobiology, geophysics/geology, life sciences and other.
