Published: 2 April 2018
Last updated: 4 March 2024
Known as an analog mission, the expedition was based at the Desert Mars Analog Ramon Station (DMARS) and allowed six "Ramonauts" to live on site and explore a geographical area which reflected the geology, dryness and isolation of Mars.
Through the construction of this space habitat, DMARS aims to promote space-related science, technology, academic research and education in Israel.
For Sorek, 39, outer space and extreme environments have always been a passion. “I’ve always been interested in space and everything that has to do with science fiction books and TV series since I was a little girl.”
Australia has been an important stepping stone on her path towards DMARS’ space habitat. Sorek lived in Sydney for seven years and completed her PhD in microbiology and immunology at the University of NSW, where she investigated bacteria in extreme environments.
During this period, Sorek became NSW director of the Mars Society Australia and undertook field trips to South Australia. She collected microbiological samples from hot springs and learned how to conduct science in the field from leading NASA scientists and American and Australian university professors and teachers.
These years of study, fieldwork and practice prepared her for the DMARS mission in Israel, financed by the Davidson Institute, the Israel Space Agency and the ICA in Israel Foundation.
“It was my first analog mission. This is a completely different, isolated, insulated kind of project,” she says. “My whole life I’ve been preparing for it, you need to be a little bit crazy!”
Each Ramonaut had a different role in conducting the mission and maintaining the habitat. “Someone had to be on the communications each day with the control centre,” Sorek says. “The mission control room was located in a different city in Israel in the Weisman Institute…and we were mimicking the delay in communication between Mars and Israel so everything they sent us via text took ten minutes to arrive.”
“I was responsible for the science experiments; which experiment, how to run it, which equipment. We had one person every day whose responsibility was to document and video and take photos and then upload everything, if possible, to the control centre.”
Crucial to DMARS success was its members’ commitment to the simulation. This involved dressing the part whenever members left the habitat to conduct scientific research outside.
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“You are on an analog mission, you are bound by certain rules and you have to play the role. It took 20-30 minutes to put a [space] suit on, with a helmet and the PLSS life-saving system on our backs. The whole thing weighed about 13 kilograms.”
Sorek’s expeditions saw her hunting for desert varnish, a patina on rocks which looks like flint and has yellow, beige and red hues. It took two four-hour expeditions, interrupted by reports from mission control that rain was heading for the desert, for Sorek to identify the varnish.
Her latest assignment has been preparing up-and-coming Israeli astronauts to embark on a similar adventure, from April 9-11.
For the past two years, she has been co-managing the Young Astronaut Israeli Academy, run through the Davidson Institute for Science Education. This weekly program teaches high school students about planetary science, astrobiology, physics and space medicine through study and simulation exercises.
“They’re going to do an analog mission, in the habitat, in the space suit,” she says. “They are going to be protected from several aspects of the mission and they’re going to be very well supervised.”
Sorek helped prepare the students for this experience through field expeditions where they had to navigate by compass and by the stars, prepare their own campsites and learn how to work together and build a group dynamic.
After her extensive study in NSW, Sorek strongly believes Australia can further progress and benefit from DMARS. When it comes to geology, Australia is the best.
As well as opening up opportunities for students, DMARS’ creation has increased Israel’s space reputation. “I think its huge’. We have gathered so many supporters and such interest,” she says. “It puts space in a completely new area for Israel and we want more students to come, we want professionals to come, we want to perform analog missions as much as we can.”
DMARS has sought to involve the local Mitzpe Ramon community as well as trial new technologies like 3D food capsules designed by the Israeli research and development company, Genie. Sorek hopes that remote censors, remote sampling and artificial intelligence can be trialled in future analog missions.
After her extensive study in NSW, Sorek strongly believes Australia can further progress and benefit from DMARS. “When it comes to geology, [Australia] is the best and you also have a lot of investment in robotics that have a lot to do with digging. “I was in Australia for seven years, I know your mindset and I think it’s going to be an awesome combination once you come here.”
Main photo: Courtesy DMARS. Other photo: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
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