MARS EVA SUIT AIRLOCK (MESA)

The Space Infrastructure Division of Astrium, has begun, and is conducting, feasibility studies of an Earth-based simulation facility for the preparation of future human missions to Mars. This facility will: 1) enable the investigation and analysis of contamination issues in advance of a human visit to Mars; 2) be used as a design tool to investigate and simulate crew operations; 3) will simulate crew operations during an actual mission; 4) enable on-surface scientific operations without leaving the shirtsleeve habitation environment. A part of the facility will include a Mars EVA Suit Airlock (MESA) designed specifically for surface EVA operations, which can be integrated in habitable modules or mobile pressurized rovers. The key driver for the design of MESA is the prevention or minimization of contamination of the habitable volume arising from EVA and sampling activities and the transport of contaminants from Earth to Mars and from Mars to Earth.