In sunglasses and jumpsuits, a crew of European test astronauts is laying the groundwork for a Mars simulation in the barren expanse of the Omani desert, a terrestrial mission intended to pave the way to the red planet.
The "analogue astronauts" of (1) _____________ Austrian Space Forum -- a volunteer-based collective - have (2) _____________ in Oman to begin preparations for a four-week simulation mission (3)_____________ to the begin of next year.
Touching down at Marmul Airport, a remote outpost used (4)_____________ oil workers, the five-person advance team loaded up on sunscreen and, with (5)_____________ Omani counterparts dressed in crisp white gowns and colourful turbans, boarded four-by-fours and plunged into the desert (6) _____________ the blazing sun.
Oil installations receded (7)_____________ the background and only rocky plateaus and ancient sandy riverbeds remained (8) _____________far as the eye could see. Maps were spread on the hoods of the vehicles.
"We want to simulate Mars (9) _____________ Earth and so we need a place that looks as much like Mars as possible. And we (10) _____________ it here in Oman," Alexander Soucek, the lead flight director of the AMADEE-18 mission, told AFP.
(Source: http://www.afp.com)
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