Preparations for the MARE experiment, a joint experiment by the Israeli Space Agency and the German Space Agency, in a scientific partnership with NASA, have been completed.
In a solemn ceremony, NASA handed over the SLS launcher to the launch site, after the assembly of the Zohar and Helga mannequins was also completed and their installation on the Orion spacecraft, which will be launched into space on the Artemis-1 mission. The experiment will test the degree of radiation protection of the AstroRad vest, developed by StemRad Israeli with the support of the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.
The experiment will be carried out by comparing the radiation indices absorbed by the Israeli “Zohar” and the German “Helga” dolls, when only Zohar will wear the AstroRad protection vest. The experiment, co-financed by the Israeli and German space agencies (DLR), is carried out by NASA with the assistance of Lockheed Martin (the manufacturer of the Orion spacecraft), and it takes place after a series of ergonomic vest experiments carried out by astronauts on the International Space Station.
If the vest can handle the radiation in deep space, there is a high chance that NASA astronauts and astronauts will use the suit on the Artemis missions planned for the next decade, which are planned to land a man on the moon for the first time in 50 years.
Hila Hadad Hamelnik, CEO of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, said: “The Israeli space industry proves once again how significant and influential Israel is in the field of space, and how important it is to continue investing in this field. The Israeli Space Agency in the Ministry of Innovation and Science succeeded, thanks to Israel’s special relations with the USA and with NASA, in promoting this important experiment, the success of which will provide an important solution without which humanity will not be able to reach the moon and beyond that the promise embodied in the Israeli technology developed by Stamrad may give astronauts the Israel’s unique contribution to radiation protection in space, and to pave the way for more Israeli space companies.”
Dr. Oren Milstein, CEO and founder of the “StemRad” company, said: “Our team has worked very hard to develop, design, and improve AstroRad and we are confident that the suit will be able to live up to its promise and face the challenges that the Artemis-1 mission presents to it. I am proud of the technology ours and thanks to the privilege I was given to bring blue-white development to the moon.”
Uri Oron, director of the Israel Space Agency at the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, said: “The Artemis program, which marks the return of manned flights to the moon and beyond, is one of the greatest challenges humanity has set for itself. Great pride to see StemRad, in partnership with NASA and DLR is part of this challenge, and I am sure that other bodies and companies will take part in the future.”
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