Nine young Europeans from three different countries participating in the EXPLORE project (Austria, Greece, and Portugal) will step out of their comfort zones for five days to experience life in an isolated and challenging environment which will simulate Mars at the Alqueva Lake Observatory (OLA), in the heart of Alentejo, Portugal.
The EXPLORE (an EU co-funded Erasmus+ program) aims to bring the future of space exploration into classrooms, and inspire a new generation to pursue careers in science and engineering through immersive activities that simulate the environments of Mars or the Moon.
This mission – named EXPLORE 1 – is a collaborative effort of the of several project’s partners: the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), NUCLIO, Ellinogermaniki Agogi EA, the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and OLA – Observatório do Lago Alqueva.
End-of-Mission Press Conference:
A press conference will be held on Friday 27 June 2025, 12h-13h, to witness the mission closure as the student analog astronauts leave the mission habitat. Media representatives will have the opportunity to submit questions in person or remotely. The press conference will include unique photo opportunities and the possibility to interact with the EXPLORE 1 mission team. The media present will also be able to engage in a variety of hands-on activities to get a feel of what it is like to be an astronaut, including and a close-up look at the EXPLORE toolkits.
To register for the End-of-Mission Press Conference, please email: leigh.fergus@cosparhq.cnes.fr by 25 June 2025. Once registered you will receive the zoom link for remote attendance.
Requests for one-to-one interviews of project lead Gernot Grömer (OeWF), NUCLIO director Rosa Doran, and OLA director Leonel Godinho should be addressed to Leigh Fergus: leigh.fergus@cosparhq.cnes.fr
About EXPLORE 1 Mission
Analog missions are simulations conducted in environments on Earth that share characteristics with the extreme conditions of space, such as those found on Mars or the Moon. These missions are crucial for testing equipment, procedures, and the psychological and physiological effects of isolation on crews before actual space travel. They also offer the opportunity to find solutions to technical or medical (psychological) challenges humans face living on Earth. In summer the Alqueva site offers a barren landscape of reddish earth similar to that of Mars and is thus the perfect location for an analog mission.
Throughout the school year, this group of students has been preparing for this mission. Now, they will have the unique opportunity to learn about space exploration and its significance in our daily lives, understand the importance of preserving the Earth’s environment with hands-on experience, improve their digital skills, become problem solvers and learn to collaborate. Their educators have been introduced to innovative student-centred methodologies that facilitate the integration of digital content into their curricula.
Here is the testimony of some of the students participating in the mission:
EXPLORE is a project that I’m truly passionate about, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. For me, it’s an incredible opportunity to dive deeper into the areas of science that I love and to actively engage with them. I’ve been studying physics since a very young age, it’s always been a subject close to my heart, so this project has given me the chance to both apply and deepen my knowledge, said Patrícia A. F. Miguel, a student at Agrupamento de Escolas Professor Agostinho da Silva, Sintra, Portugal.
Frederico Jesus, a student at Escola Secundária de Paredes, Portugal, also explained to us what he expects from the experience: For me, this experience could help me better understand the situations and problems that may arise, as well as personally experience what can happen during space missions.
And Angelika Mara, a student at Ellinogermaniki Agogi school in Greece, said: “Joining the EXPLORE project feels like stepping into the future of learning—where curiosity meets innovation, and dreams of space become hands-on reality. I’m thrilled to be part of a mission that not only simulates Mars but also ignites the explorer within us all.”
Leader of the project, Gernot Grömer, Director of the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), says: With the EXPLORE analog mission, we’re not just replicating a Mars expedition — we’re cultivating the next generation of explorers, scientists, and critical thinkers. This is the first time European high school students will lead such a complex analog mission, and we expect them to surprise us with their creativity and resilience. This is a historic moment — not only to see the future of space exploration in action, but to meet the young minds who may one day walk on Mars.
You can follow this mission through the EXPLORE project and NUCLIO social media:
EXPLORE:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exploreprojecteu/
NUCLIO:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nuclio_pt/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nuclio
See other NUCLIO networks in the footer.
Good luck to all the young astronauts!
About the Alqueva Mars Analog Station
The Alqueva Mars Analog Station, located at OLA – Observatório do Lago Alqueva, will be Europe’s only permanent open-air simulation station for planetary surface field campaigns with both the habitation and Mission Support Infrastructure at that level. It is complementary to the ESA/DLR LUNA facility in Cologne, Germany, or the EUfunded SHEE habitat at the International Space University, France. It can be used for scientific research, for testing and validating new technologies and products as well as for education, outreach and teambuilding. The station is still under construction.
Further details by contacting alquevahab@oewf.org