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Show WedThursFri, April 28-30, 2004 The Park Record A-7 Utah desert to simulate Mais landscape HANKSVILLE, Utah (AP) While robots have been scurrying around Mars for months, researchers here on Earth have been trying to make a little bit of Utah seem more like the Red Planet. Six-member teams have spent weeks in a silo-shaped module here trying to simulate what astronauts might endure should they ever wander wan-der Mars. Researchers even strap on air packs and 30-pound boots when they step outside. The Mars Desert Research Station is one of two living laborakv ries operated by the Mars Society, an organization dedicated to Mars exploration. The society's other operating habitat is in an equally remote section of Canada Another is planned for Iceland, and more could be in the works. The society locates the habitats in areas similar to Mars both in climate cli-mate and geography. The Hanksville station stands in a vivid red landscape land-scape of cracked dirt, loose soil, rolling hills and jutting cliffs bear ing a striking resemblance to the Mars photographs retrieved from NASA's rovers, , "It looks alien, and it's in a desert with infrequent rain," said Tony Muscatello, project manager of the desert habitat. "Some of the land forms there are remarkably similar in a lot of ways." The goal of the habitats, participants say. is to stimulate stimu-late public interest in manned Mars missions by replicating the potential experience on Earth. NASA doesn't directly sponsor or fund the habitats, but often sends its researchers to participate. Habitat findings are offered to the space agency and other professionals to support exploration research. During the roughly six-month testing season, the habitat is staffed by revolving six-member crews that spend two weeks apiece in "space." It hosts working geologists, physicists, physi-cists, biologists and engineers from companies and colleges all over the world. Crew members make outside contact with colleagues and family only through e-mail and online chat. Cell phones dont work on Mars, and the crew's satellite telephone hasn lately, either. A delivery man from Hanksville, roughly four miles away, is the crew's sole link to packages and parts. That remoteness, Muscatello said, helps make the simulation feel more authentic. It "s part of the reason rea-son NASA is using the center to test communication systems for a Mars simulation. Parts of the $1.5 million facility appear to be deteriorating and crew No. 27 is spending most of its time trying to fix and diagnose problems. prob-lems. Many of the problems deal with communication. The cable connecting con-necting a satellite dish to the habitat module is frayed somewhere and routinely malfunctions. Plenty of dead spots exist in Geld communication communica-tion when crew members are out exploring. Crew members sleep in roughly 5-by-l 2-foot quarters, and spend most of their time in the habitat in one room which functions as a kitchen, computer lab and .living room. Great lengths are taken to ensure that the simulation feels realistic. real-istic. Crew members rarely leave the habitat module without full space gear. They spend 20 minutes before entering and exiting the module in a mock decompression chamber to simulate the routine they'd have to perform in space. Researchers at the desert habitat keep a close watch on information retrieved by NASAs Mars rovers, and use it to compare the Red Planet's landscape with the barren desert surrounding them. The fact that manned missions to Mars might not be feasible within the lifetimes of the habitat's workers doesnt seem to dim their ambition." "Maybe 50 years from now, people peo-ple will want to go and they'll just go," Diaz says. "It will be that easy," TMTrr i Cybercafe Weekly Specials through Spring! PC Roasters coffee. Tons of Machines, Tl connection. Print, Scon, Even Bum CMs 7 Satisfying Days a Week 738 Lower Main Street 649-0051 Families: 419th likely to be in Iraq longer SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Families of the 175 Utah Army Reservists in the 419th Transportation Company have been told to expect the soldiers will be in Iraq another 120 days. Maj. Gen. James P. Collins, commander com-mander of the Salt Lake City-based 96th Regional Readiness Command, met with the families on Sunday. The company had been preparing to return home a week ago when the Pentagon ordered tours of duty extended for about 20.000 soldiers. Members of the Utah National Guard's 1457th Engineer Battalion, based in American Fork, also had been ordered to stay in Iraq an extra 120 days, but that order was later reversed, allowing the estimated 400 Guard members to return home next month. About 2,000 Utah Guard members mem-bers and Reservists are serving in the Persian Gulf region. Collins assured families that equipment the 419th soldiers had turned in has been retrieved, including includ-ing body armor and armor kits for trucks the soldiers will be driving to deliver fuel throughout Iraq. "The 419th is one of our best units," Collins said. "They were awarded the Armywide Deployment of Excellence (award). , When the Combatant Commander was faced with the need to extend units in country, it is only logical that he would select the 419th." Remarks from the 419th commander, com-mander, Maj. Timothy L. Lewis, were relayed to families gathered at the Salt Lake City reserve center during a meeting closed to the public. pub-lic. "We may not agree with the decisions deci-sions that impact our lives but we must stay focused on mission accomplishment accom-plishment both at home and in the theater of war," said Lewis, a financial finan-cial consultant in civilian life., "We have to worry about the things that we can have a positive impact on." Lewis' wife Michelle said the troop extension "is beyond difficult. As a commander's wife I'm trying very hard to stay strong." Hall Martinez said he is proud that his son will do his duty, "but if he comes home in a flag draped coffin after serving this long, I'll be angry." "It's like the Army doesnt know . what we're going through," said Nancy Tibbits of American Fork. During her husband's absence, their baby son was hospitalized for breathing difficulties, she underwent surgery and was hospitalized a second sec-ond time with complications. While she was in the hospital, other wives helped Tibbits care for her three sons and daughter. ; "Some of us don't have families in Utah," said Kathleen Santoro. "We ' have to help each other. 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