“Destination Mars” (“Destino Marte”, in Spanish), is the title of an exhibit which intends to show the public the importance and transcendence of the international efforts in the exploration of Mars, the red planet.

Developed by the Project for the Creation of the first Spanish Museum of Space Flight* (Project MEE), this exhibit consists of around thirty panels containing photographs and diagrams which describe the human interest in Mars, from the astronomical observations of the planet in the 19th Century to the future settlement of human bases on the Martian surface. Other items such as spacesuit cross-sections and outer layers, scale models and Mars soil simulants are also part of this exhibit which has been on display at several Spanish cities since 2006.

Most of the exhibit’s elements have been contributed by international space organizations such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Department of Space Studies at University of North Dakota (UND Aerospace), and aerospace companies such as ILC Dover and Ecliptic Enterprises. The most recent contribution to this exhibit came from the Austrian Space Forum (OEWF). It consists of materials which document this organization’s efforts in Mars Research, such as the development of the Aouda.X Mars analogue suit which has been testing in Rio Tinto (Spain) in April 2011. The OEWF’s contribution to the exhibit “Destination Mars” include a couple of samples of the Aouda.X suit outer layer, an eight-centimetre, 3D model of the suit and some video footage from the tests conducted at Rio Tinto and other locations. Thanks to those elements, the exhibit visitors in the next openings will have the chance to know about the efforts OEWF is making in the field of Mars research.

Although there is no dates or places officially set for the exhibit’s next opening yet, “Destination Mars” is expected to visit Northern Spain in the next Fall.

(*) Project MEE is an initiative conceived in 1997 in the city of Cadiz which focuses on the creation of a science, educational centre for the people to have a direct access to everything related to space science and technology. Although it has no financial help of any kind, in these years Project MEE has evolved in a very positive way. Thanks to the invaluable contribution of materials from the international aerospace community and from individuals, the collections of Project MEE have been increasing continuously. Although the Spanish Museum of Space Flight has not a physical space to show its collections in a permanent way yet, the project is working on many aspects such as document restoration, development of educational activities and collaboration with institutions, among others. Likewise, Project MEE has already become a source of information for the educational community.

For further information:
Oscar A. Rodriguez Baquero
Manager, Project MEE
P.O. Box 2763 – E-11080 Cadiz (Spain)
Website: www.museoespacial.es
E-mail:
Phone: +34649316961