Devon Island Expedition and Preparation

The Haughton Mars Project (HMP) base camp is located on Devon Island, which is a part of Canada up on the Arctic Circle. Devon Island is used as a Mars analog. Several programs have been up to HMP, to test space hardware and operations concepts.

Keith Cowing wrote our research proposal and will lead the expedition. Other members of our team will be Bill Readdy and Matt Reyes. Our program will be educational in nature. We will write blogs to describe our experience and how HMP is used to further efforts towards Mars exploration.

Going up to the Arctic Circle will be a new experience for me. In preparation, I had to buy the proper gear as well as arrange travel. Fortunately, Keith has been to HMP twice before and provided detailed lists and contacts.

From Houston, I will fly to Ottawa via Continental Airlines. From there, I will fly to Resolute on First Air, which calls itself The Airline of the North. Resolute to Devon will be in a Twin Otter. Quite a long trek North!

I've bought most of my gear, which includes:

Convertible, three season, three person tent
Zero-degree sleeping bag
Sub-zero boots
Sub-zero gloves
Plenty of warm clothing

Now, I just have to learn how to set up the tent!

Leroy Chiao