Forget multi-million dollar tickets to space; Mongolia’s MARS-V Project is building a hyper-realistic Mars analog station in the Gobi Desert, aiming to turn tourists into ‘analog astronauts’ by 2029 through a challenging, month-long survival simulation designed for deep psychological and physical preparation for a multiplanetary future.
Imagine waking up on Mars. The air is thin, the landscape is stark and red, and outside your bunk pod, temperatures plunge to -30 degrees Celsius. You pull on a spacesuit over thermal underwear, ready to face a sandstorm on a mission with your crew. This isn’t a distant future for a select few astronauts; it’s the vision of the MARS-V Project, an ambitious initiative in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert designed to turn space enthusiasts into ‘analog astronauts’ for a fraction of the cost of actual space travel.
The Gobi: Earth’s Closest Martian Analog
The choice of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert for this groundbreaking project is no accident. This remote, arid, and barren landscape uniquely mirrors the geography and climate of Mars. With extreme temperature swings from 45 to -40 degrees Celsius and iron oxide-tinted soil, the region offers an eerily Martian environment. This combination of isolation, altitude, and temperature makes it an ideal scientific training ground for future astronauts and a crucial test site for equipment and rovers destined for the Red Planet.
MARS-V, a non-governmental organization based in Ulaanbaatar, aims to build a fully-fledged Mars analog station here, expecting to welcome its first tourists by 2029. Enkhtuvshin Doyodkhuu, MARS-V CEO, emphasizes the challenge: “Your objective is to survive in an environment that is very, very isolated. You have to have this simulation mindset that you’re on another planet: you need to feel that if you don’t follow protocol, you die.” This immersive philosophy underpins the entire experience.
Rigorous Training for the Ultimate Adventure
Becoming an analog astronaut isn’t just about showing up. Participants must pass stringent physical, psychological, and mental agility tests. This is followed by a comprehensive three-month virtual astronaut training program covering everything from oxygen protocol to the psychology of isolation. Once in Mongolia, a three-day in-person drill in Ulaanbaatar with new teammates precedes a ten-hour journey by bumpy road into the desolate Gobi, where phones are surrendered, and civilization fades into the pale-red dust.
The month-long stay is spent in interconnected modular pods, serving as living quarters, a laboratory, and a greenhouse. A strict daily regimen, mirroring that of real astronauts, includes vitamins, meditation, exercise, breakfast, and a team briefing. Doyodkhuu highlights the importance of mental resilience: “Meditation has to be a big part of the program. One very risky thing when it comes to Mars pioneers is we don’t really know what’s going to happen with their psychology, because no other person has been away from Earth that long.” Participants should expect a sense of claustrophobia and a longing for Earth, making the psychological challenge as intense as the physical one.
Living and Working on the Analog Red Planet
Days at the MARS-V camp are packed with challenges. Crews conduct geological mapping, collect soil samples, and operate rovers. Communication with “Earth” (the MARS-V mission support team) includes a timed delay to simulate interplanetary lag, enhancing the realism. These simulations run between October and March, coinciding with the Gobi’s brutal winter, when temperatures can dip far below freezing. Doyodkhuu notes that “-27 degrees Celsius would be a warm day.” To maintain authenticity, external support is hidden, ensuring participants feel truly isolated. However, safety remains paramount; simulations would be halted if there were any real risk of death, distinguishing it from an uncontrolled Arctic expedition.
Meals consist of freeze-dried Mongolian dishes, such as rehydrated dumplings and mutton stews, designed to mimic astronaut rations while celebrating local culture. Intriguingly, there’s a symbolic connection between the nomadic Mongolian ger (traditional felt tents) and the Martian dome prototypes under development by the MARS-V engineering team. “We [Mongolians] have thousands of years of history living in isolated places, with very limited resources,” Doyodkhuu explains, “We’re just taking that idea to another planet.”
The Broader Context: Analog Missions and Space Tourism
The concept of trialing planetary life on Earth is far from new. Agencies like NASA and ESA have long utilized analog sites for critical experiments and astronaut training, perfecting protocols and equipment before actual space missions. What makes MARS-V’s initiative particularly noteworthy is its integration of scientific research with tourism, arriving at a time when private space travel is rapidly moving into the mainstream.
With companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin attracting celebrities such as Katy Perry, Tom Hanks, and Kim Kardashian, the era of luxury space tourism is upon us. However, a ticket to orbit can cost upwards of $28 million, as observed in a CNBC report on Blue Origin’s initial flights. The MARS-V camp offers a significantly more accessible alternative, projected at around $6,000 per person for a month-long experience, including pre-camp training and evaluation. It’s an opportunity to immerse oneself in the cosmic allure of Mars without the astronomical launch costs or the inherent risks of decompression in actual space.
The Future of Multiplanetary Life, From Earth
Currently in early development, MARS-V’s analog station has completed designs for habitats, spacesuits, and food systems. Doyodkhuu anticipates the habitats will be ready and open to the public within the next two to three years. For those captivated by the idea of other planets, MARS-V offers a tangible glimpse into a Martian future.
The experience is designed to be profoundly transformative. “You have a lot of time to think out there,” Doyodkhuu shares. “Being in this otherworldly place for one month trying to survive with five other people, it gives you this renewed outlook on life.” This isn’t just a holiday; it’s a chance to challenge oneself at an analog astronaut training center, to be part of the historical journey towards humanity becoming a multiplanetary species. The impact on participants is expected to be significant and long-lasting.
For the thrill-seeker, the explorer, or the dedicated space enthusiast, MARS-V promises an unparalleled adventure. However, if the thought of freezing cold isolation and bunk pods sounds more like punishment than an ultimate holiday, the Gobi Desert still offers its otherworldly charm in a far more comfortable setting. During the summer, the luxurious Three Camel Lodge provides a contrasting experience, trading thermal gear for spa towels and freeze-dried stews for an extensive whiskey selection. Even reaching this lodge requires a substantial 7-8 hour journey from Ulaanbaatar, underscoring the remoteness of a region that offers perhaps the closest earthly approximation to Mars.
