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CNN Sunday Morning

Scientists Are Working to Simulate Conditions on Mars on a Remote Canadian Island

Aired July 15, 2001 - 08:26   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, life on Mars -- it is a lot closer than you think. Actually, scientists are trying to simulate life on Mars right here on Earth, and specifically on a remote Canadian island north of the Arctic Circle. And CNN's planning to be there to show it to you.

Space correspondent Miles O'Brien and producer Linda Sayder (ph) are now in Resolute Bay in the Nunavut Territory of Canada -- that's quite far north -- and then they'll move on to Devon Island. And there, the two separate camps are set up in a barren crater, and scientists are planning to simulate space walks, practice robotics, and I hope at the same time try to keep warm.

Let's get a preview now from Miles O'Brien who's on the phone from Resolute Bay. Hi, Miles. Why don't you explain, first of all, what you're doing there?

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, we're trying to stay warm, Brian. It is rather chilly here. We're about 350 miles north of the Arctic Circle on the shores of Resolute Bay in the little town of Resolute -- less than 300 people here. And we're awaiting a break in the weather to get into a twin otter to fly the final leg of this journey, about 112-mile flight to Devon Island, the largest uninhabited island in the world.

At the center of it is an impact crater from an old asteroid, where these camps are set up. One of them has a habitat, which has some scientists who will actually conduct simulated space missions inside the habitat to learn what that's all about. In addition, conducting space walks, if you will. And then another encampment where they will be working on robotic schemes and experiment ideas, which may one day be used on the real planet.

NELSON: Is this something new, or have they been doing this for a while? And is this with the intention of a manned mission to Mars in the near future?

O'BRIEN: Well, I think the near future would be a little more optimistic than even these folks would agree to right now. There just isn't any money right now for a manned mission to Mars.

These are some of the most enthusiastic supporters of the concept inside NASA and outside of NASA. Part of this is funded by a group called the Mars Society, a private group of Mars enthusiasts who are aiming to push NASA and push the United States -- push the world, for that matter -- toward a manned mission to Mars.

This has been going on here -- some sort of experiment for the past four years. They've actually set up this habitat with the space walks and the people living inside the mock space craft for two seasons now. And it is a short season, as you know, Brian. Up here, they get about six to eight weeks of decent weather in which to try this out.

NELSON: And very quickly, Miles, we only have a couple minutes -- seconds left, but how close does the terrain up there resemble the terrain on Mars?

O'BRIEN: It's as close as you can get. I think if you added a sepia filter to the pictures, you would say that this is a Pathfinder image. It's cold, it's dry, and it's seemingly lifeless. It's a pretty good Mars analog.

NELSON: All right. Well, thanks for giving us a call. That is Miles O'Brien. He's in Resolute Bay up in Nunavut territory in Canada heading off to Devon Island for this test of certain procedures and equipment.

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