Donovan Magney, a University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering computer engineering graduate student and aspiring astronaut received a glimpse into space travel when he recently participated in a LunAres Analog Astronaut Mission, an astronaut simulation research program.
Analog astronaut missions are field tests in locations that have physical similarities to the extreme space environments and play a significant role in problem solving for spaceflight research, according to NASA.
The LunAres Research Station in Piła, Poland was established in 2017 and specializes in lunar and Martian mission simulations. These missions simulate certain aspects of space missions to conduct research in a safe and cost-effective environment. Members of these missions come from around the world and are experts from fields like medicine, psychology, robotics, engineering, and space architecture.
"Participating in LunAres, as a student, was one of the most rewarding experiences and an excellent opportunity to work with people from all over the world. I was able to actively contribute toward research helping humans in space and am looking forward to participating in many more analog missions in the future," said Magney, who graduated this past spring with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
