Hawaii’s culture stems from a history of voyagers, and we must continue that tradition to the next frontier.
Today, on the 51st anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, the world finds itself in a new, unprecedented space race. The United States, China, Russia, India and even the United Arab Emirates are preparing for the next great wave of exploration and colonization, and Hawaii is positioned to lead the way with aloha.
At the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS), a 1,200-square-foot prototype moon and Mars habitat on Mauna Loa, scientists and researchers from international space agencies have conducted mission simulations since 2013 to improve crew selection processes, extravehicular activity procedures, and spacesuit advancements. At 8,200 feet above sea level, the HI-SEAS site has Mars-like geology, which allows crews to perform high-fidelity geological field work and add to the realism of space mission simulations.