Exploring ‘Mars’ in the Utah desert

Yuval Brodsky has just returned from Mars. Well, almost.

The graduate of McMaster's Environmental Science program recently spent two weeks in
Utah working with the Mars Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the
exploration of the Red Planet, at a research station in the Utah desert. Brodsky says
that, while he enjoyed the opportunity to perform research in a simulated space
environment, at least part of the experience left a bad taste in his mouth – literally.

“Part of our task was to test the types of food that would be taken along should
humans try to explore Mars,” he said. “Let's just say I was happy to get a steak dinner
in me once we were finished that part of the research.”

Brodsky received his degree from McMaster in 2009 and, after hearing about it from a
friend, traveled to France to do his master's degree at the International Space
University (ISU). From there the Vaughan, Ont. native, along with a group of other ISU
graduates, headed to the desert where they helped simulate an actual mission to Mars.
The researchers practiced collecting soil samples, conducting experiments and
deploying and repairing equipment while wearing space suits and studied the
psychological effects of remaining isolated for long periods of time.

The experience was a unique one for Brodsky, though he hopes it won't be his last.

“I want to learn more about how humans adapt to extreme environments, whether it's
in space or on Earth,” he said. “There is a wide range of applications for this type of
knowledge.”