China builds base simulating Mars village

The Martian village is being built in a barren area that mimics the surface of the red planet to serve future exploration missions.

A basin in central Qinghai Province, China, was chosen to build a Mars simulation base. Illustration: Wordpress.

China is planning to build its first Mars simulation base inarid Sai Dat Moc basinQinghai Province,ShanghaiistJuly 27 news.

The base is built on a desert-like landscape, interspersed with mountains, grasslands, rivers and lakes. The rich geological features make it an attractive choice of site of scientific importance.

About 95,000 square kilometers of Qinghai Province are affected by desertification, leaving much of the region relatively unpopulated. However, the barren conditions and lack of vegetation make the landscape ideal for simulating life on Mars.

Liu Xiaoqun, director of the Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Agency of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the new Mars village will serve as a base for education, research and simulation training. Visitors to the site can learn about aviation, astronomy, geography, geology, meteorology and new energy.

China's ambitious space exploration program includes plans to launch a Mars probe in 2020. Last year, China also shared images of its orbiter, lander and rover designed to explore the Martian surface.

According to VNE