China opens first Mars simulation base to let humans experience Mars-like feel

Though humans have not yet been able to reach Mars, China has tried to make a similar experience till then by opening its first ever Mars simulation base.

Chinese city of Mang’ai is one of the most Mars-like places on Earth, containing a similar climate and a similar landscape. This is what led to China opening up a Mars simulation base that the country hopes will not only attract tourists, but also help humans reach to the actual Red Planet.

The 53,300-square-meter base features a ‘Mars community’ and a ‘Mars camp’ aimed to educate and entertain public and also provide a place for scientific research and simulation training. Project’s founder Gao Junling told The Global Times that the visitors will have a chance to ‘immerse themselves in the environment and try to solve problems they might face on Mars, such as planting potatoes on Mars for food supply and solar power generation.’

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The base can accommodate 60 people in its capsules and hundreds in the base’s tents. The base’s construction that started last year in June cost about 150 million yuan ($22.3 million).

In contrary, space science professor Jiao Weixin told the newspaper that despite the simulation base featuring a Mars-like setting, it is still really difficult to simulate Mars because of its special natural features and hostile environment which includes ‘low air pressure, strong radiation, frequent sandstorms, and cast differences in geography’.

Meanwhile, China will launch its first Mars probe next year and is also planning four deep space exploration missions before 2030, including probes to Mars, asteroids and Jupiter, reported news Xinhua News Agency.