D-MARS

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D-MARS is a human analog mission to the planet Mars, taking place in Makhtesh Ramon in the Negev desert in Israel. D-MARS is an acronym for "Desert Mars Analog Ramon Station" and its crew are known as "ramonauts". Ramon's geological features and aridity are similar to those of Mars.^[1] The mission site is a valley that resembles the impact craters of Mars.^{[citation needed]}

Several missions have been carried out since the beginning of 2018, each staffed by six crew.^[1][2] They have performed experiments across many disciplines, including physics, soil studies, microbial studies, psychology, agriculture, water supply and engineering.^[3] Their suits were designed by the Israeli fashion designer Alon Livne.^[1]

The first mission took place for 4 days in February 2018. In 2019 the mission lasted for 11 days and in 2020 two student missions were held in March and 5 day training were held in November. In 2021 the mission took place from 4 to 31 October and six astronauts from Austria, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain took part in the mission with mutual cooperation of Austrian Space Forum and Israel Space Agency.^[4][5]