![Photo: Reuters Photo: Reuters](https://images1.ynet.co.il/PicServer5/2018/02/18/8357795/8357782099488183103no.jpg)
D-Mars in the Negev
Photo: Reuters
A team of six Israeli researchers on Sunday ended a four-day Mars habitat experiment in Israel's Negev desert where they simulated living conditions on the Red Planet, Israel's Science and Technology Ministry said.
Participant Guy Ron, a nuclear physics professor from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said the project was not only intended to look for new approaches in designing a future mission to the Red Planet but also to increase public interest.![The project was equal parts scientific inquiry and cultivating interest in Mars exploration, a researcher said (Photo: Reuters) The project was equal parts scientific inquiry and cultivating interest in Mars exploration, a researcher said (Photo: Reuters)](https://images1.ynet.co.il/PicServer5/2018/02/18/8357793/8357784099387640360no.jpg)
The experiment was held near the isolated township of Mitzpe Ramon, whose surroundings resemble the Martian environment in its geology, aridity, appearance and desolation, the ministry said.
The D-Mars project in the Negev (רויטרס)
The participants were investigating various fields relevant to a future Mars mission, including satellite communications, the psychological effects of isolation, radiation measurements and searching for life signs in soil.
Participant Guy Ron, a nuclear physics professor from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said the project was not only intended to look for new approaches in designing a future mission to the Red Planet but also to increase public interest.
![The project was equal parts scientific inquiry and cultivating interest in Mars exploration, a researcher said (Photo: Reuters) The project was equal parts scientific inquiry and cultivating interest in Mars exploration, a researcher said (Photo: Reuters)](https://images1.ynet.co.il/PicServer5/2018/02/18/8357793/8357784099387640360no.jpg)
The project was equal parts scientific inquiry and cultivating interest in Mars exploration, a researcher said (Photo: Reuters)
"D-Mars is half about the research, and the other half is about the outreach. A major part of this project is getting public interest and getting students interested in space," he said.
The D-Mars project was being held in Israel for the first time in cooperation with the Israel Space Agency. It is one of a number of Mars simulation projects taking place worldwide.