Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission

World's biggest analog

TEAM

DAY LIFE AT THE STATION

Analog space mission in a habitat arrives in Portugal for the first time, based in Monsaraz.

Monsaraz will host the first analog mission conducted within a habitat on Portuguese soil. The “Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission” will take place from October 13 to 25, in the outdoor area of the Alqueva Lake Observatory.

The initiative is part of the World’s Biggest Analog (WBA), an international effort that will carry out the largest conceptual space simulation mission to prepare for living and working in space, uniting multiple habitats and collaborative research on Earth. Portugal’s participation in the WBA marks a new step in establishing the country on the international map of analog space exploration.

Following the success of the CAMões Mission—held in November 2023 in the Azores, inside the Gruta do Natal on Terceira Island—this new experience brings the spirit of scientific exploration to the heart of Alentejo, where researchers and analog astronauts will simulate conditions similar to those on Mars.

The project leadership in Monsaraz, as well as the operation and management of the habitat, is the responsibility of the Alqueva Lake Astronomical Observatory (OLA). The scientific and technological leadership is led by INESC TEC, in partnership with NATIXIS. The mission also once again counts on the support of the Os Montanheiros Association, leaders of the CAMões Mission.

NUCLIO will be the educational and outreach partner, ensuring the mission's connection to schools and the wider community, following up on the recent analog mission for students, the EXPLORE 1 mission, conducted in the scope of the EXPLORE project.

Monsaraz MCC Directors

MCC Director

Ana Pires

Researcher at INESC TEC and first Portuguese woman Scientist-Astronaut, and Commander of the first space analog in Portugal (CAMões mission), explores space, Earth, and marine frontiers through robotics, planetary geosciences, geotechnologies, and analog missions. Passionate about extreme environments and STEAM outreach, she believes:

“Curiosity is the most powerful rocket fuel we have”.

MCC Director

Slavka Andrejkovičová

She is the Principal Investigator at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, a Special Expert Scientist for the SAM team at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and a Collaborator at the NASA Goddard Center for Astrobiology. A geochemical and nuclear chemist focused on astrogeology science, constantly

“uncovering life’s story, from rocks to stars”.

Monsaraz Crew

Crew Commander

Pedro Pedroso

Air Traffic Controller with over 20 years’ experience and an academic background in aerospace engineering. Served several roles over multiple analog space expeditions, adept at operational leadership, crisis management, and team-building under pressure. Passionate about space and exploration, both on and off the planet - having summited Mount Kilimanjaro and now setting sights even higher. Devoted to preparing for the future of human settlement beyond Earth, connecting aviation expertise and adventure to the next frontier.

"All civilizations become either spacefaring or extinct." – Carl Sagan

Communications Officer / Engineering Support

Nadine Duursma

Robotics and Space Engineering student at Delft University of Technology. Worked in the Arctic at Andøya Space, raced 3,000 km across the Australian outback in the World Solar Challenge, and authored the children’s book Met Mama naar Mars to share

curiosity about space.

“What can’t be done hasn’t happened yet”.

Flight Engineer / Robotics Specialist

Diogo Paupério

Engineer at INESC TEC, working on robotics for exploration in extreme environments, from underwater mining to analog space missions. Passionate about the ocean, space, and pushing boundaries.

"We once sailed the seas, now we sail the cosmos. Exploration is our past, present, and the path to our future."

Science Officer / Planetary Geologist

Rafael Rebelo

PhD student in Geosciences at the University of Aveiro. His research focuses on the study of serpentinized rocks, seeking to understand how they may respond and contribute to the emergence of life, both on Earth and all over the universe. Passionate about space and fascinated by the miracle of the emergence of life.

“The planet Earth still holds secrets that allow us to look at space with new eyes; all we need is the courage and curiosity to explore them.”

Executive and Medical Officer

Florence Basubas

A biomedical and space biology researcher and science communicator from Cebu, Philippines. With a background in Biomedicine, Molecular Virology, and Space Biology, she works at the intersection of sustainability, education, and innovation to advance healthcare and space research. She is passionate about making space education accessible to youth in emerging nations and inspiring the next generation of explorers.

"Even small island kids can dream of reaching the stars."

Videos of the mission's daily life

WBA Open Ceremony

Our analog astronauts are officially on site for Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission

WBA Open Ceremony

We are live streaming now, for Planet Earth!

Videos of the mission's daily life

EVERYDAY 0900 TO 1400

www.youtube.com/@anitapinky

https://mico-cam.oewf.org/

Preflight

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Preflight

Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission, Alqueva Lake Astronomical Observatory, Monsaraz, Portugal.

13 October 2025, Sol-1, 2:00PM

The Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission took-off and the crew entered the first day of isolation.

From October 13 to 25, the crew will conduct experiments advancing science and operations for human spaceflight, as part of the World Biggest Analog – a collaboration through simultaneous simulation of 17 habitats spread worldwide. The Monsaraz Mission, with a dome hosted at Alqueva Lake Astronomical Observatory, simulates Mars-like conditions, marking the first analog mission from Portugese soil.

“Two days before arrival in the habitat, it was fully empty from the inside”, reports Communications Officer Nadine Duursma. “We had to do the full set-up ourselves, from laying out a floor, to arranging the interior, to creating separations of the rooms inside the dome.

These conditions immediately put our team under pressure, and I feel proud of how we worked together to set fully set up the habitat within this short timeframe”.

Upon arrival, the team completed the first EVA, or Extravehicular Activity.

In this ‘spacewalk’, the crew has installed a seismologic station and performed tests of communication networks.

Lead EVA Rafael Rebelo reports “As our first EVA, it was a successful activity, completed within just 11 minutes.

The seismic station will be important for monitoring the seismic activity, measuring vibrances of the tectonic plates.

This will help to understand the geology and subsurface distribution of a planet.” The seismic experiment was named after NASA’s Insight Lander, the first rover to study Marsquakes and the inner structure of Mars.

Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission, Alqueva Lake Astronomical Observatory, Monsaraz, Portugal.

14 October 2025, Sol-1, 2:00PM

The second day of the Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission has been successfully completed, marked by the mission’s first drone flight during an Extravehicular Activity (EVA).

“I was super excited to test the drone,” said Flight Engineer Diogo Paupério, reflecting on the mission’s first drone reconnaissance. “Imagery from the drone allows us to assess whether the area around the habitat is safe for an EVA and to identify the best locations for our experiments in advance.”

In addition to supporting the crew on-site, the drone imagery is also transmitted to the Mission Control Center, which oversees and plans mission operations. “When Mission Control can see what we’re doing in real time, it enhances our communication,” Diogo explained. “They can then evaluate our progress and adjust mission activities accordingly.”

Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission, Alqueva Lake Astronomical Observatory, Monsaraz, Portugal

October 15, 2025, Sol-3, 2:00 PM

The third day of the Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission was marked by an emergency Extravehicular Activity (EVA) and an unexpected delivery.

"The objective of the EVA was to rehearse for the nighttime operation, controlling the telescopes and observing the stars," reported EVA Leader Nadine Duursma. "Shortly before the end, a problem occurred with the ventilation system, forcing us to follow emergency procedures and return as quickly as possible." The team repaired the ventilation system and continued the EVA to recover the drone.

Demonstrating adaptability to unexpected conditions, the team faced another surprise shortly after completing the first EVA. “When we returned, we received a message from Mission Control informing us that supplies had been delivered and needed to be collected outside,” Nadine explained. “This immediately forced us to conduct a second EVA.”

After successfully recovering the delivery, the previously planned night EVA was postponed to Saturday, October 18, due to unfavorable weather conditions.

That evening, the team officially named their mission ASP-1 Novares, derived from Novara, meaning “new place,” and Ares, the Greek equivalent of the Roman god Mars.

João Lousada Message Support

Crew Team Videos

Especially for students:

Some of the crew recorded videos about the mission and the work they will be doing, and sent them to us to post here!

MCC Crew Director

Ana Pires

MCC Crew Director

Slavka Andrejkovičová

Crew Commander

Pedro Pedroso

Flight Engineer / Robotics Specialist

Diogo Paupério

Executive and Medical Officer

Florence Basubas

Science Officer / Planetary Geologist

Rafael Rebelo

Communications Officer / Engineering Support

Nadine Duursma

Want to meet the mission team?

Join the school sessions!

The Alqueva Lake Observatory with NUCLIO and the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) are pleased to invite your school to a unique online event that will connect classrooms to the Mars Analog Mission in Monsaraz.

Your students will have exclusive access to the inside of the mission and will interact with the team in real time!

What is the patch of a space mission?

It is a digital and/or fabric reproduction of the emblem of a space mission, which shall be worn by the astronauts who make up its crew and by the respective support technical team.

The patch includes the names of the crew members, and its graphic design that represent the most important objectives.

A short story behind the Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission patch that might serve as inspiration for you and your colleagues in creating your own patch!

The image capture the essence of the Mars Analog Mission in Monsaraz - an initiative that unites space exploration with the local community, involving an international team working in conditions similar to those on Mars.

The patch becomes a powerful symbol of this important mission.

The Astronaut represents the space explorer, the central figure of the mission, and their floating position in space symbolizes the challenging environment and extreme conditions of Martian exploration.

The Silhouette of Monsaraz connects the space mission to the region where it is being carried out and shows how the local community of Monsaraz is involved and supports this initiative, reinforcing the link between space exploration and the terrestrial context of the mission.

The Stellar Background refers to the extraterrestrial environment and the exploration of the universe, and creates a contrast with the silhouette of the city, reinforcing the spatial character of the mission.

In a small detail, it is possible to observe the planet Earth, conveying the essence of the mission.