Meet the MDRS Mission Support Team

Mission Support serves the function of what has historically been called Mission Control for previous human space exploration endeavors. Mission Support's role is to be the "Earth-bound" group of experts that supports the work of the MDRS crew. "Support" is a better word than "Control" in the case of a mission to Mars, in which the large physical distance necessitates a great deal of independent operation on the part of a Martian crew.

John W. Barainca	Certified Flight Instructor - John has taught biology, physics, astronomy, aeronautics and astronautics at the high school level. He created a space flight simulation as part of his science classes and has been "flying" students for the past 29 years. He currently operates a mobile unit in which students fly to Mars each day. He also teaches astronomy at the Salt Lake Community College. In addition to space flight simulations, John has worked with students to fly an experiment in a GAS canister in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle, designed and flown an experiment on a satellite (WEBERSAT), and has flown experiments on Air Force high altitude balloons. He is extremely interested in exobiology and will be focusing on activites related to the methodology of collecting and classifying extremophiles in addition to other operational aspects of the MDRS simulation. He plans to share his experiences and the MDRS project with the educational community. John's hobbies include skiing, mountaineering and horseback riding.
Dr. William Clancey	Chief Scientist, Human Centered Computing, NASA/Ames My contribution for MDRS: Helping conceptualize and formalize analog investigations; methods include participant observation and simulating hab activities ("a day in the life"); special interests: How life support systems maintenance constrains science activities; role of mission support in bridging communication with systems & science specialists on Earth. My web site is Here.
Gary Fisher	GreenHab group Manager - I try to coordinate the group activities with the overall MDRS effort. My own particular task has been building the greenhouse.
R. D. "Gus" Frederick	Daily Dispatch Webster - Oregon Native Gus Frederick currently works as an Instructional Technologist for the Oregon Public Education Network, a Web-based resource for teaching and learning. He became involved in the Mars Society after many years of space activism, and serves as the Secretary of the Oregon Chapter. He is assisting the GreenHab portion of the project by providing technical advice regarding data acquisition and the sensor web. Additionally, Frederick is maintaining his own backyard 'Mars Garden' at his home in Silverton, Oregon. He will be using many of the same techniques and crops that the GreenHab will be using.
Jean Lagarde	Information Management Task
Tony Muscatello	Mission Support Director - He also contributes to crew training. Tony is a research chemist working at Pioneer Astronautics in Lakewood, Colorado on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), especially the production of fuels and oxygen from the martian atmosphere and soils. Tony is a founding member of the Mars Society and treasurer of the Rocky Mountain Mars Society.
Rocky Persaud	MDRS Exploration Research Team - I am helping to define areas in which Mars analog science and technical projects can be conducted at the MDRS.
Shawn Plunket	Task Manager: Spacesuit Design, Educational Outreach - Shawn is President and founder of the Nevada Chapter of the Mars Society. His main goal in life is to become an astronaut and is currently pursuing a Physics degree at UNLV. He also helped to scout areas for the habitat. "Why stay secluded when there is so much beauty to be enjoyed? It is my belief that by taking this journey humanity will gain a greater understanding of life ... plus, it would be a pretty fun trip."
Stacy Sklar	Crew Training, Logistics, Exploration, and Research - Stacy Sklar is a geochemistry student currently attending NAU (Northern Arizona University) and aspires to be a Mars Vulcanologist. She is active with the Mars Desert Research Station with Crew Training, Logistics, Exploration, and Research. In here spare time Stacy is an avid outdoors women. She has hiked over 600 miles in Northern Arizona alone and a majority of her hiking is in the Grand Canyon. Stacy is also a fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Star Trek, and martial arts. Her musical interest is classical and wants to learn to play the violin. Her favorite book is "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach. Favorite Quote: "Not all who wander are lost" JR Tolkien.
Dr. Tamarack Czarnik	Medical Director - Dr. Tamarack ('Tam') Czarnik is trained in Family Practice and Aerospace Medicine, and currently serves as Medical Director to the Mars Desert Research Station. He holds authority in the same regard as litter bins.
Jon Wiley	Member, Information Management Team - Jon Wiley is a Founding Member of The Mars Society. He is a web developer by trade and also does graphic design work. He created The Mars Society title logo, the layout on the original membership flyer, and designed the full page color ad for the 2001 convention. Jon was on the site selection committee for the Mars Desert Research Station, and was one of two field scouts to first visit and report upon the selected site. Jon has a BA in Acting from the University of Texas.
Veronica Ann Zabala*	AKA GeoBum* - I am a Sophomore attending Arizona State University majoring in Geology. I have been a NASA Space Grant Intern for over two years and have held the title of Research Assistant within the Planetary Geology Group in the Department of Geological Sciences. Contributing efforts include holding the position of Chapter President for the ASU and Phoenix Chapters of the Mars Society for the past three years. The purpose of the ASU & Phoenix Chapters of the Mars Society are to provide the general public with information regarding the planet Mars and Human and Robotic Space Exploration. I am currently a Task Force Manager for Research & Exploration, Spacesuit Design and Public Outreach for the Mars Desert Research Station. With my involvement in the MDRS project, I hope to enhance my skills in Planetary Geology and help create the Protocols necessary for our first Explorers to The Red Planet. Ad Martem!
Maggie Zubrin	Maggie co-founded The Mars Society and has been serving as Executive Director for the past three years. She has been involved in Hab design, crew selection and scouting for the MDRS and has also served on the FMARS management committee and the MDRS science committee.