Why the Gobi Desert?
The Gobi isn’t just remote — it’s uncannily Martian. Its red, iron-rich soil, dramatic temperature swings (from +40°C to -30°C), and vast, empty terrain make it one of the most convincing Mars analogs on the planet. Snow-dusted dunes, sandstorms, and high-altitude plains create a setting where stepping outside feels like stepping off-world.
CNN recently described the experience in vivid detail: waking up in a sealed bunk pod, eating freeze-dried dumplings, and suiting up in a prototype space suit to navigate a simulated sandstorm. It’s not a movie set — it’s a real training ground for future space tourists.
What Will You Do?
By 2029, travelers will be able to live like astronauts for up to 30 days, experiencing the isolation, survival, and scientific rigor of a Martian mission — without leaving Earth. Participants will take on crew roles — botanist, engineer, safety officer — and work together to manage resources, conduct experiments, and survive the psychological challenges of isolation.
The camp will include:
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Hermetically sealed living pods
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Martian-style rations with Mongolian flair
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Greenhouse labs and mission planning
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Sandstorm navigation and emergency drills
It’s a mix of science, survival, and storytelling — designed to push the boundaries of what tourism can be.
Mongolia’s Space Ambitions
The Mars V Project is part of a broader national vision. Mongolia has already launched two nanosatellites and presented the Mars V concept to global space agencies including JAXA, ESA, ISRO, and Roscosmos. The country is positioning itself not just as a destination for adventure — but as a player in space innovation.
Unlike other Mars analogs in Hawaii or China, Mars V is:
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Open to tourists
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Culturally grounded
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Locally led
It blends Mongolian resilience with global ambition — offering travelers a chance to live the future, in a land shaped by nomads and stars.
For those who crave more than landscapes — who dream of stepping into the unknown — Mongolia’s Gobi Desert may be the closest you’ll get to Mars. And the countdown has already begun.
