From Space.com.
Four crewmembers simulating a mission on Mars dealt with a real-life emergency late last month — a greenhouse fire so strong that flames reached at least 10 feet (3 meters) high.
On Dec. 29, the first day of their mission, the crew noticed an unusual power surge in their habitat at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), in the Utah desert near the small town of Hanksville. A few minutes later, somebody spotted smoke coming from the greenhouse.
Crew commander Nick Orenstein, an experienced camper who has built bonfires in the past, ran outside to take a look. He said he figured the group could take on the fire, because the smoke was blowing away from the habitat, and only one shelf inside the greenhouse was aflame. At that time, the fire was about the size of three overstuffed chairs.
"This is a moment where instinct took over, the instinct of fight or flight, and we had fight," Orenstein told Space.com. "There really wasn't a question at the moment."
Read about how the Orenstein and his crew battled the fire here.
Latest from Greenhouse Management
- University of Florida study unlocks secrets of invasive short-spined thrips
- Kian-backed Eden Brothers adds Michael Hollenstein as CEO, expands senior leadership team
- IPPS announces organizational rebrand, new website and 2026 international membership drive
- Growscape appoints chief manufacturing officer, Brian Cunningham
- BioWorks introduces Sandrine Copper Soap and Cintro Insecticidal Soap
- BioWorks appoints Jason Miller as director of sales and distributor relations manager
- Florida Ag Research appoints Jason Hamm as southeast USA area research manager
- Fresh Inset appoints Gordon Robertson as general manager, North America
