Astronaut for Hire: FMARS

FMARS

In July 2009, I was a crewmember on a month-long simulated Mars mission to the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) on Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic. Throughout the Mars Society sponsored expedition, I posted regular dispatches from the field to my website astronautforhire.com. I've collected all of these "letters from Mars" on this page for easy reference along with my video blogs and news articles featuring me. Photos are available on my Phanfare site or the FMARS Crew Picasa Web Album site. Please contact me for media inquiries or to ask permission to use a photo. Thanks to everyone who followed me during the mission, especially those who chipped in to help pay for my expenses. On to Mars!

Blog Posts | Video Posts | Media Stories | FMARS-XII Patch

Blog Posts

03-07-10: Comparing FMARS and MDRS
03-02-10: LPSC Poster on Mars Analog Geophysics
09-03-09: FMARS Retrospective
09-02-09: Listen for Me on The Space Show
08-20-09: FMARS Video #9: From Gypsum to Water
08-09-09: Mapping FMARS EVAs
08-04-09: Beard Blog
08-02-09: FMARS Summary
07-30-09: Last Days on Mars
07-27-09: EVA Epilogue
07-24-09: Water and Electricity do Mix on Mars
07-21-09: Of Gemini and Gypsum
07-19-09: Postcard from Mars
07-18-09: FMARS Video #4: Exercise
07-16-09: The Astronaut Seismologist
07-14-09: My Martian Birthday
07-13-09: FMARS Hab Tour and Last Non-sim Day
07-12-09: My First EVA
07-11-09: Haughton Crater Run
07-08-09: First Week at FMARS
06-30-09: Resolute Bay: Staging Ground for FMARS
06-28-09: Travel to the Canadian North
06-24-09: FMARS Bound (and promotional video)
06-22-09: FMARS 2003 and 2007 Videos
06-21-09: FMARS Training: Part 2
05-26-09: FMARS Training
05-18-09: FMARS Update
04-28-09: I'm going to Mars! (and I need your help)

Also check out Kristine's blog posts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

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Video Posts

08-20-09: Episode 9: From Gypsum to Water
08-01-09: Episode 8: Stacy's Mars Society Convention Address
08-01-09: Episode 7: Mars Society Convention Address
07-31-09: Episode 6: Water at FMARS
07-24-09: Episode 5: FMARS Space Suits
07-18-09: Episode 4: Exercise at FMARS
07-14-09: Episode 3: Tour inside FMARS
07-11-09: Episode 2: FMARS surroundings
06-29-09: Episode 1: Resolute Bay
06-23-09: Promotional Video (by Tom Jennings Productions)

many more videos on the FMARS 2009 YouTube Channel

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Media Stories

11-19-09: Man on Mars, Northwestern Magazine, by Robbie Levin
11-01-09: Life on Mars, FMARS: Bringing the Red Planet to the Arctic, WideWorld Magazine, by Alexandra McKenzie
10-15-09: Flashine Mars, Tangents Magazine, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts
10-01-09: UND Engineering is Rocket Science! center spread, Grand Forks Herald, by NDSGC
09-06-09: The Space Show (radio interview, mp3)
08-01-09: Brian Shiro’s Pseudo-Planetary Adventure, NOAA World, by Delores Clark
06-30-09: Ewa man gives life on Mars a try, Honolulu Star Bulletin, by Helen Altonn
06-24-09: Bytemarks Cafe (radio, mp3)
05-31-09: ISU SSP05 Alum Brian Shiro Selected as a Crewmember for 2009 FMARS
Expedition, ISU*USA Alumni Association, May 2009 Newsletter
05-21-09: SpSt student Brian Shiro selected for Mars simulation mission, UND Space Studies News Release

many more FMARS news stories on the FMARS 2009 website

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FMARS-XII Patch I designed the FMARS patch with the help of my wife and fellow crewmembers. It is triangular in shape to convey the theme of prospecting for resources via three vantage points: air, surface, and subsurface. The shape is also reminiscent of the petal/airbag structures employed by Mars landers of recent years. The patch features an image of Devon Island (light green) superimposed on Mars to indicate how the the island is considered a Mars-like analog environment. An astronaut geologist and rover are featured on the island, and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying overhead is showing the geologist where to dig. The blue wavy lines beneath the island signify the geophysical search for groundwater done at FMARS this summer. The water image is flanked on the left by a seismogram and right by a laser symbol to reference seismic and biomedical research projects. In the background is the FMARS habitat (the "Hab") proudly waving the Mars flag.