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Entrance to Mammoth Cave
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Here is the view from the cave entry to the beautiful landscape (background: Hallstaetter Lake).
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Daniel Foeger and Cliffbot in the Tristan Dome
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Suit tester Daniel Foeger and cliffbot are seen here in the Tristan dome.
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Lowering the Cliffbot over an Ice Cliff
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Here, the suit tester starts to lower the cliffbot over an ice cliff.
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Eva Hauth Assists Suit Tester Daniel Foeger
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Here, Eva Hauth assists suit tester Daniel Foeger during the donning of the space suit simulator.
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Daniel Schildhammer at the Dachstein Ice Cave
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Here, suit tester Daniel Schildhammer works in the Dachstein giant ice cave.
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The Tristan Dome
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Here, Daniel Foeger stands in the Tristan dome in the Dachstein giant ice cave.
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Cliffbot on Its Way
Credit: © OEWF/Association Planète Mars (APM)
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Here, Cliffbot starts on its way off a cliff at the Tristan dome (Dachstein giant ice cave).
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Spacesuit Simulator Donned
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. The spacesuit simulator is donned in front of the cave entry. In the background, Lake Hallstaettersee is visible.
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Working with the Spacesuit Simulator
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. A tester works with the spacesuit simulator at the Tristan dome in the Dachstein giant ice cave.
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Magma White with WISDOM Radar
Credit: © OEWF/Andreas Köhler
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Here is the Magma White rover with mounted WISDOM radar of the Polish Mars Society & ABM Space Education at the Parsival Dome, Dachstein ice caves.
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Asimov Jr. R3 Rover
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Here is the Asimov Jr. R3 Rover of the Part-Time Scientists (competitor of Google Lunar X-Prize) inside the King Arthur dome of the Dachstein giant ice caves.
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Team of WISDOM Radar
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. The team of WISDOM radar inside the giant ice cave makes measurements on the ice.
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Daniel Schildhammer Taking Samples
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Suit tester Daniel Schildhammer takes samples at the Dachstein giant ice cave.
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Schildhammer at the King Arthur Dome
Credit: © OEWF/Andreas Köhler
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Suit tester Daniel Schildhammer works in the King Arthur dome in the Dachstein giant ice cave.
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Magma White Rover with Team
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. The Magma White rover stands with the Polish ABM Space Education team.
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Aouda.X Spacesuit Simulator Arrival
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. On April 26, 2012, the first OeWF team arrives at the cable car station "Schönbergalm." Sebastian Sams moves the Hard-Upper Torso element of the Aouda.X spacesuit simulator out of the gondola.
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Touring the Cave
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. After setting up the control stations, a first cave tour was arranged to choose the best locations for the upcoming tests.
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Gondola Ride to the Command Center
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. On April 27, 2012, the team makes the gondola ride to the "Schönbergalm" cable car station, where they have established the local command center in a separate room of the restaurant.
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Frischauf Coordinates with Schachner
Credit: © OEWF/Andreas Köhler
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Flight Director Norbert Frischauf coordinates the last details of the rover parade with Tom Schachner of the Part-Time Scientists team.
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Working Inside a Spacesuit
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. In the King Arthur Dome, suit tester Daniel Schildhammer demonstrated the usage of instruments and rock sampling techniques despite the limitations of a spacesuit.
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Schildhammer Removes Spacesuit
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. After an exhausting day as suit tester, Daniel Schildhammer is relieved to take off the weight of the suit.
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Suit Tester Daniel Foeger Prepares Materials
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. Bernard Foing from the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG) discusses the procedures for a sterile sampling process with Ulrich Luger, OeWF. In the meantime, suit tester Daniel Foeger prepares the materials in the box.
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The Rover Parade
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. At the end of the third day of the campaign, the rovers and two flying robots show their local pride during the "rover parade." From small to (relatively) large they will also one day assist human explorers on the surface of Mars.
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Headset Fixed
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. In the field, the AKG headset slipped over the tester's snoopy cap when walking in the narrow passages of the cave. In this case the quick fix was a set of powertape stripes over the snoopy cap.
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Taking Biological Samples
Credit: © OEWF/Katja Zanella-Kux
The Aouda.X spacesuit tests were part of a 5-day Mars mission analog field test performed at Mammoth Cave in the Giant Ice Caves of Dachstein, Austria, by the Austrian Space Forum and international research partners in April-May 2012. On April 30, 2012, biologist Lara Vimercati assisted the suit testers in taking samples which will be analyzed at JPL laboratories.
