What have these two places got in common?

Both very cold Both very dry (Antarctica has less rainfall than the Sahara desert) Both are unexplored Water is a liquid Too cold for significant life

For this reason, ESA (European Space Agency) and NASA test all of their equipment that will be sent to Mars in Antarctica

During the next 50mins, you will be imagining that you work for the UK Space agency. Antarctica: Mars on Earth Science competition

During the next 50mins, you will be imagining that you work for the UK Space agency. They need to test equipment and astronauts for their next mission to mars. Antarctica: Mars on Earth Science competition

During the next 50mins, you will be imagining that you work for the UK Space agency. They need to test equipment and astronauts for their next mission to mars. Our brief is to design a series of experiments that can be performed in Antarctica: Mars on Earth Antarctica: Mars on Earth Science competition

The best experiments will be taken to Antarctica by the expedition! Those of you who’s experiments are taken will be updated by blog & whilst down there in November/December! Antarctica: Mars on Earth Science competition

Category 1: Engineering/materials Mars is extremely cold and dry (just like Antarctica!). Design an experiment that will test the behaviour of equipment and materials in the terrestrial environment of Antarctica, the closest conditions to Mars.

Category 2: Physiology Whilst on Mars, humans will be subjected to extreeme temperatures. Design an experiment to test how humans react to such conditions.

Category 3: Psychology Anyone going to mars will be isolated in a small group for years. Just like astronauts, Antarctic expeditions are also isolated, with limited contact with the outside world. Design an experiment to test how humans react to such conditions.

Category 3: Psychology Anyone going to mars will be isolated in a small group for years. Just like astronauts, Antarctic expeditions are also isolated, with limited contact with the outside world. Design an experiment to test how humans react to such conditions.

Category 4: Biology There is a chance there may once have been life on Mars. Design an experiment to test whether life can survive in the extreme cold conditions of Antarctica, as an indicator of the possibility of past Martian life forms.

Category 4: Biology There is a chance there may once have been life on Mars. Design an experiment to test whether life can survive in the extreme cold conditions of Antarctica, as an indicator of the possibility of past Martian life forms.

The best projects will have the following attributes: 1.Must be achievable in a four-week time frame 2.Any associated equipment must be readily available and easy to transport to the continent 3.Must produce interesting and original outcomes that can be looked at when the expedition is over 4.Must not remove anything from the environment of Antarctica (due to the Antarctic treaty, 1961)

Keep up to date with progress, blogs etc by visiting Expedition dates: November/December 2010