Training for Mars on Earth: Dr. Pascal Lee’s Mission to Prepare Humans for the Red Planet

In this exclusive World of Aerospace interview, I sit down with Dr. Pascal Lee — planetary scientist at the SETI Institute, co-founder of the Mars Institute, and director of the Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) — to explore how Earth’s most extreme environments are being used to prepare for the first human missions to Mars.

📍 Devon Island, Canada — the largest uninhabited island on Earth — is one of the most Mars-like places we have, and Dr. Lee has spent over two decades turning it into the ultimate Mars analog training ground.

🔎 Topics We Cover:
✅ How Devon Island simulates the Martian surface
✅ Mars spacesuit design challenges (300 lbs → 60 lbs)
✅ The Northwest Passage Drive and long-distance rover testing
✅ How Artemis missions to the Moon connect to Mars
✅ Why testing in harsh Earth environments is critical
✅ Advice for students who want to explore space, become astronauts, or join analog missions

🧠 Whether you’re an aspiring aerospace engineer, a student passionate about space, or simply a curious mind — this conversation is filled with insights, inspiration, and a real look at what it takes to send humans to Mars.

📚 Resources & Links:
🔗 Learn more about the Haughton-Mars Project: https://www.marsinstitute.no/
🔗 Follow Dr. Pascal Lee on X (Twitter): @PascalLeeTweets
📘 Check out his book "Mission: Mars" for students and educators

🎓 About World of Aerospace:
World of Aerospace is a student-led media project exploring the future of flight and space exploration. Subscribe for interviews with leading scientists, engineers, and astronauts.
🌐 More at: https://www.worldofaerospace.com

#mars #nasa #PascalLee #spaceexploration #haughtonmarsproject #devonisland #artemis #analogastronaut #worldofaerospace #aerospaceengineering

👍 Like, subscribe, and leave a comment if this inspired you!