New spacesuits, familiar test: NASA back in CO to prep for Mars exploration, return to moon - KTVZ

Much as the earlier, original 'moon suits' were tested here in the 1960s.

(KTVZ) -- NASA recently tested new spacesuits designed for a return to the moon and future Mars exploration at a number of natural sites in special spots around Central Oregon and nearby.

"We thought this was really fitting, because we do have a spacesuit to test, and we are going back to the moon, so we came to Oregon,” Lee said Monday. .

Apollo astronauts trained and tested their spacesuits in Oregon during the 1960s because the natural volcanic landscape closely resembles the moon.

A crew of about 10 people came to Oregon to test the new suits at some of those same sites, which includes Lava Butte, the Big Obsidian Lava Flow, Fort Rock, Hole in the Ground and the Yapoah Lava Flow at McKenzie Pass.

"In case you didn't know, Oregon has really beautiful analog sites for the moon, and also for Mars,” Lee said. .

The reason they're testing new sites like Starlight Cave is because for the first time ever, they're testing spacesuits designed specifically for caves.

Lee hopes the suits will be used on the moon within the next decade, and said this was a promising first step.

Lee said he could see astronauts exploring Mars by the mid 2030s, and hopes to do some more testing in Oregon before then.