FMARS 2009 Crew Employing Google Lunar X-Prize Rover and Other Advanced Systems

July 8, 4:32 PMCape Canaveral Space Program ExaminerJason Rhian

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IMAGE CREDIT: 4FRONTIERS CORPORATION

The2009 Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station expedition sent to the remote Mars Society outpost located on Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic has made it to the site and has begun operations.  Getting the entire 6-person crew took some doing due to severe weather that hampered their arrival.

Upon arriving the expedition's Executive Office, Joseph Palaia, wasted little time getting the lunar rover developed by Google Lunar X-Prize contestants Omega Envoy, unpacked and ready.  Other members got communications established.  Getting established is a labor-intensive effort and all crew members have been working overtime to get everything set up in preparation for the upcoming simulated EVAs.

Currently the members of the expedition are prepping their space suits for next weeks round of experiments.  The crew consists of Mission Commander Vernon Kramer an instructor of Geology at Del Mar College, Executive Officer Joseph Palaia, vice-president of the Mars settlement company 4Frontiers Corporation, EVA Coordinator Stacy Cusack, Space Station Training Lead at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Geophysicist Brian Shiro, Interdisciplinary Scientist Kristine Ferrone a flight controller for the International Space Station and the expedition's Medical Officer Christy Garvin, a teacher at Vaughan Elementary School in Powder Springs, Georgia.

For more info: www.fmars2009.org