There are a lot of different aspects to traveling in space, especially the kinds of long-duration flights required to get to another planet, or to spend a stint on the International Space Station.
Some elements of those missions can be simulated on Earth, and many can't. But among those that can are the physical and psychological demands of spending a long time in a small space under challenging and occasionally life-threatening conditions.
A small sailing vessel from Australia called Berrimilla is going through a voyage right now that captures some of those elements -- it's making a long trip from Australia to England, by way of the Canadian Arctic. It's partly adventure, partly education (they're blogging all the way, and taking lots of pictures and videos, some of which can be seen in real time and some will be compiled into educational programs at the journey's end).
And because the interest of the two-person crew parallels with space exploration, it drew the attention of some friends in high places: They did a live video linkup with the crew of the ISS during an earlier voyage, to talk about some of their similar trials and joys. Following that journey, they were invited by the ISS astronauts to give a presentation to a symposium at Louisiana State University about risk and exploration, specifically drawing analogies between their voyage and a trip to Mars.
This latest trip, the two sailors say on their website, "seemed like a neat idea and there were lots of suggestions about how it could be used for educational purposes -- the whole concept is full of opportunities to demonstrate aspects of science, history, environmental change, planning and human relationships in difficult circumstances."
Soon, one of the journey's intended stops will be specifically geared toward astronomy and space travel.
They're aiming for a stopover at Devon Island, home of NASA's long-running research project and simulated Mars base at Haughton Crater, the Haughton Mars Project. In fact, the whole trip came about as a result of a suggestion from that project's leader, NASA-Ames scientist Pascal Lee, who drew the itinerary for the trip on a cocktail napkin and challenged the Berrimilla crew to carry it out.
And there's one more thing about that plan: They're aiming to get to Devon Island in time for a very special event. As luck would have it, on August 1 the Haughton Mars Project will get a rare treat, as the path of totality of a total eclipse of the sun passes right through the center of the island. Berimilla's crew hopes to get there just in time.
They're in Alaska right now, in the fishing village of Unalaska, on schedule to make it to Devon on time if the winds and the sea-ice cooperate. Good luck to the Berrimilla crew for their voyage, and to the team at Haughton crater for viewing the eclipse!
Photo: courtesy of Haughton Mars Project
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