The Habitas base, 1985
The Habitas program was a program carried out by the Europa Space Agency to determine the feasibility of space colonization or habitation.
History[]
The Habitas program was in development since around 1975 but only really began in 1977 when astronauts were placed in a mock-spacebase in the Atacama desert for 6 months. In 1978 astronauts carried out similar tests in Antarctica for another 6 months.
Lunar Program[]
Habitas 1[]
The lunar program began in 1981 when several modules for a space base were sent into space in a Navona Rocket and were ferried from the space module to the moon. The base was built in several stages from 1981-82.
Habitas 2[]
In 1983 the Ferrari designed-and-built Lunar Car was shipped to the moon, allowing for better transportation of the astronauts. The first oxygen-supply tanks were also shipped allowing the astronauts to breathe air.
Habitas 3[]
The third Habitas mission of 1983 was the first one that had astronauts living in the lunar spacebase. Astronauts lived in the station for 17 days before returning home.
Habitas 4-8[]
Subsequent Habitas missions (1986-1991) were also short due to the not-so-practical oxygen tank system. In 1995 a specially made chemical oxygen generator was installed in the base by Habitas 8 allowing for prolonged stays on the moon. In the late 1990s there were also plans for eventually placing a base on Venus. When a Vulcan Probe was able to reach Mars it seemed more feasible for astronauts to land on the red planet.
Habitas 9[]
The Habitas 9 mission was carried out from 2001-2002. The first stage was similar to pre-Habitas 1 tests. In 2002 a Bernini Rocket carried out modules of the base to Mars. Astronauts remained here for 9 days before returning to earth.
Habitas 10[]
Habitas 10 has been the most recent stay in Mars. Astronauts lived in the mars base for 2 weeks in 2007.
Habitas 11[]
Habitas 11 has been the longest-duration mission in this program. Astronauts left Fortuna Space Center in March 15, 2009 and remained on the moon for 6 months, 11 days. This is presently the longest habitation in outer space.
Habitas 12[]
Habitas 12 is a Mars mission to send new modules (and replace the old ones) that begun on January 24, 2012
Habitas 13[]
A planned mission to Mars where astronauts will reside at the new base and try to link up with Vulcan 8 and other probes.