Yearly Archives: 2026

SAM to become testing ground for next-generation space habitats

Matthias Beach and Kai Staats at SAM following a 2-weeks solo mission, October, 2025

Biosphere 2’s SAM to become testing ground for next-generation space habitats

By Laine Kowalski, U of A Office of Research and Partnerships

At the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2, the Space Analog for the Moon and Mars, better known as SAM, operates as a sealed habitat where air, water and food are measured and recycled as if it were far from Earth’s croplands and life-sustaining atmosphere.

SAM’s research informs the future of astronaut life-support systems while advancing a broader goal: positioning the facility as a critical testing ground for next-generation space habitats.

Read the full article …

By |2026-02-23T20:01:49+00:00February 23rd, 2026|Categories: In the news|0 Comments

Happy Birthday to SAM!

Five years ago today, SAM was born.

If we had known that half a decade later we’d still be building, well, we might not have had the courage to dive in. This is how entrepreneurs get things done — naive to the labor ahead (no matter how many projects have been engaged before) and full of energy, you take the first step and then start running.

By |2026-02-07T07:19:24+00:00January 20th, 2026|Categories: Construction|0 Comments

National Space Society Design Competition returns to Biosphere 2 and SAM

National Space Society annual design competition students at SAM

by Luna Powell

For the 4th year, the National Space Society took around 80 middle school students on an overnight weekend trip to Biosphere 2 for their annual space design competition. The students had the opportunity to visit SAM for a tour with Luna and Matthias. Together, they put 20 students on the Reduced Gravity Simulator, provided an educational, geological tour of the SAM Mars Yard, and provided an external tour of SAM. Many of the students said that the knowledge they learned during the tour will help them during the competition! Thanks to Ty White who helped organize and set up the tour for his students.

By |2026-02-16T20:57:24+00:00January 17th, 2026|Categories: Visitors to SAM|0 Comments
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