By BlueShift | 2025-03-11

Mars V is an ambitious part of Mongolia's efforts to make itself a space industry destination through the establishment of a Mars analog research station in the Gobi Desert.

The project, first launched in 2019, seeks to make Mongolia a hub for research on planetary exploration –– and hopefully draw the attention of public and private sector collaborators.

Mars V is a government-funded project founded in 2019. Its 3,000 members range from scientists to major Mongolian political figures –– all united around a love for space and aspirations for Mongolia's place at the helm of science and technology research. It aims to provide valuable insights for future human missions to Mars.

Why Mars? Why Mongolia?

The Gobi Desert's unique characteristics make it an ideal location for Mars-related research. Its day-to-night temperature range of -42 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius is similar to Mars's 130-degree variations. High winds, low precipitation and ferric oxide-rich soil mimic Mars's climate conditions and soil composition.

The Mongolian Aerospace Research and Science Association (MARSA) has centered its focus on the development of three primary lines of effort.

The Mars Research and Development Training Center will focus on potential human habitation of Mars. The program also plans to operate a think tank that produces work on space exploration and Mars-focused research. Lastly, its Mars Simulation Tourism Center will aim to attract space enthusiasts to explore a biome that resembles Mars while putting them through programmed, simulated challenges to augment the "reality" of the experience.

By leveraging public interest in space exploration through Earth-bound space tourism, Mars V is meant to bolster public support for space exploration.

Mars V also has the goal of drawing international collaboration. Mongolia has a history of robust collaboration across the international spectrum, and its geostrategic location nestled between Russia and China makes it a valuable partner. In recent years, Mongolia's space sector has collaborated with US- and France-based companies to launch Mongolia's first satellites and construct a Mongolian national satellite telecommunication system.

The MARS V program has started collaboration with two different groups under NASA and is in the process of seeking private-sector partnerships with foreign companies like Starlink.

In 2023 in Ulaanbaatar, US Ambassador to Mongolia Richard L. Buangan spoke to the importance of international collaboration in space exploration.

"In the coming years, NASA's Moon to Mars program will launch humanity's next giant leap to the Red Planet," he said. "Perhaps these astronauts will be equipped and trained with the help of Mongolia's brightest engineers and scientists from the MARS V project."

"The MARS V project is a testament to the ability and potential of young Mongolians to contribute to that effort," the ambassador added.