The first Mars simulation in South America occurred in the weekend December 8th-10th, 2017

The first Mars simulation mission in the South America, at the Habitat Mars research station, was held from December 8th to 10th, 2017 in operation at the Center for Research in Engineering, Science and Sustainability of the Semi-Arid (NUPECS) in the city of Caiçara of Rio do Vento, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The first team to conduct the research mission at Habitat Mars was composed of three undergraduates and a UFRN professor.

During the period of operation of the mission were developed some activities: 1 - Collection of soil sample and minerals; 2 - Astronomical observation; 3 - Evaluation and improvement of life support systems in Habitat Marte; 4 - Test, improvement and evaluation of space suits and the Autonomous Module of Sustainable Cooling. The evaluation was performed during the development of the Extra-Vehicular Activities (VAS). 5 - The operation of intravehicular activities (IVA) was evaluated, actions that are carried out inside the station. 6 - Behavioral and humor aspects of the members of the mission were also evaluated. 7 - Reports were also prepared.

Results observed at the Habitat Mars research station will be compared with the results obtained at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), in the United States. In February, at the beginning of the semester 2018.1, an event will be held at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) to share the main results.

Diogo Borges da Silva received the designations of chief executive and chief geologist of the mission, being a graduate student of the geology course. Participates in UFRN project of classification and mapping of Risk Areas in the city of Maxaranguape, in partnership with the state Civil Defense.

Pedro Pinheiro assumed the functions of chief astronomer and journalist of mission 1. Pedro is student of Physics in UFRN. He is CNPq scholar researching the theme "Dehydration of Exoplanets", based on the dehydration of Mars, under the tutorship of Professor José Dias do Nascimento Jr.. Pedro is member of the research group Structure & Star Evolution (G3).

Thalita Vianna, during the mission 1 in Habitat Mars, developed the functions of chief scientist and health and safety officer. She is student of geophysics at UFRN. Her research on Habitat Marte involved the analysis of soil samples and their mineralogy, relating the soil of the semiarid with the soil of Mars. She has participated in projects of geological risk for the Civil Defense, also in Rio Grande do Norte state.

Professor Julio Rezende was the commander and chief engineer of the Mission 1 on Habitat Marte. The professor coordinated mission 182 at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), during November 2017. Julio is professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at UFRN and director of innovation at FAPERN. He is also president of the CRA-RN.

Habitat Marte is open to receive international researchers and technological and scientific missions. More information about Habitat Marte: www.HabitatMarte.Blogspot.com.

Please, all the suggestion and collaboration are welcome. We are open to establish international partnerships. We represent an strategic opportunity in the Southern hemisphere.

During 2018 we be done at least one mission by month. Please contact us: Prof. Julio Rezende, PhD: Juliofdrezende@hotmail.com. Cell phone: 5584999818160. Twitter: @juliofdrezende.