The suit - weighing 45 kg - simulates all constraints of a real spacesuit and uses a high tech human to machine interface which is able to adopt some tasks normally covered by a mission control center. Three years from now the prototype will be used during a simulated mars expedition in the arctic. "During this first field tests we want to study the behaviour of AOUDA's mechanics like its ability to safely move in a martian like environment, to operate equipment and send a continuous data stream to the control center." said chief project leader Gernot Groemer (Austrian Space Forum) and explained further: "There are just four groups working seriously in developing a spacesuit for Mars worldwide, three of them operating in the USA."
"The tests proved to be physically exhausting while demanding full commitment. 20 to 40 of AOUDA's developers monitored the tests in Kramsach, from experts for textiles of the Ferrarischool and technicians from HTL Fulpmes to specialists for electronics from the Austrian Space Forum . Each of them was essential to maintain the local infrastructure." told Ulrich Luger, the first wearer of the suit, "Essentially AOUDA is a 45 kg heavy wearable space craft and at the same time a portable computer and a biological barrier."
Parts of the suit were developed in cooperation with the engineers of the Austrian Space Forum and four tyrolean schools: HTL Anichstrasse (located in Innsbruck), BRG Imst, HTL Fulpmes and HBLA for textile techniques (Ferrarischool, Innsbruck).
Austrian Space Forum's AOUDA tested successfully
1.-3. July 2009
During July, 1st to July, 3rd Austrian Space Forum tested a prototype model of spacesuit AOUDA in Kramsach/Tyrol for the first time.
The suit - weighing 45 kg - simulates all constraints of a real spacesuit and uses a high tech human to machine interface which is able to adopt some tasks normally covered by a mission control center. Three years from now the prototype will be used during a simulated mars expedition in the arctic. "During this first field tests we want to study the behaviour of AOUDA's mechanics like its ability to safely move in a martian like environment, to operate equipment and send a continuous data stream to the control center." said chief project leader Gernot Groemer (Austrian Space Forum) and explained further: "There are just four groups working seriously in developing a spacesuit for Mars worldwide, three of them operating in the USA."
U. Luger tested Aouda.
PolAres Schedule Update
15. June 2012: Deadline Announcement of Opportunity MARS2013 25.-27. Oct. 2012: 3rd Conference on Terrestial Mars Analogues 01 - 28. February 2013: Morocco Mars Simulation
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.
