Spain stands in for Mars in spacesuit test

What would you wear to explore the brutal and unforgiving surface of the Red Planet?

While a mission carrying astronauts to Mars might be a long way off, some European scientists have been putting their minds to that question. Recently, theyhadthe arid mining areaof Rio Tinto in Spain stand in for the planet as they tested a spacesuit simulator.

Despite bad weather in Andalusia, and rains not seen for decades, the research team, madeup of scientists from the European Space Agency and the Austrian Space Forum, liked what they saw of the Aouda.X suit.

"We were able to accomplish most of our aims," Gernot Groemer of the Austrian Space Forum, who led the Rio Tinto test, wrote in an email Wednesday.

"We developed a much better understanding of the tear-and-wear patterns and how the suit would best interact with the rovers."

While the simulator has elements that are "Mars-fit," such asa thermal control system, as a whole, it wouldn't actually stand up to Martian conditions.

"Currently, there is no spacesuit system worldwide qualified for Mars surface activities," Groemer said. "Even the Apollo suits would not stand up to the task."

But Aouda.X is "more advanced" than other suits currently in use, especially for its electronics and other features.

Groemer said there are still a few engineering challenges to tackle after the recent tests, such as the effectiveness of the thermal control system.

But he was "very, very satisfied with the stability of the data telemetry and telecommand infrastructure."

"Basically, starting the day with the satellite-link briefing with 'Earth' felt like opening a book with blank pages and writing the first chapters of our generation's biggest, most complex and challenging journey to another world one day."

TheRio Tintoteststook place between April 18 and April 22.

Below isa look at some of the features of the Aouda.X.