Mars Research Center
🚀 Postcard from Mars (Wait... is this Utah?)
Ever wanted to visit another planet without the seven-month commute and the freeze-dried ice cream? Just a few miles outside of Hanksville, Utah, you can do exactly that.
Tucked away in a landscape so barren and red it would make a Rover jealous, you’ll find the Mars Desert Research Station. To be honest, it looks like it was plucked straight out of a 1950s sci-fi "B" movie—white pods, vast emptiness, and total isolation.
The Lowdown
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The Vibe: It looks like a low-budget movie set, but it's actually a serious research facility!
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Who’s in charge? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not a NASA project. It is a privately funded facility dedicated to seeing how humans might actually live on the Red Planet.
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Can you go inside? Not unless you’re an astronaut-in-training. The property is private, but you can get a fantastic view (and some killer photos) from a respectful distance.
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The Best Part: It’s located on North Cow Dung Road. Yes, seriously. You can’t make this stuff up!
Why You Should Stop
Whether you’re rocking a professional rig or just snapping away on your cell phone, this place is a creative goldmine. The contrast of the high-tech looking habitat against the ancient, rugged desert makes for some incredible shots.
Pro Tip: Don’t get so caught up in "serious" photography that you forget to take the fun shots! These are the memories you’ll laugh about later when you tell your friends you finally moved to Mars.
If you’re exploring the Hanksville area, definitely make the detour. It’s weird, it’s beautiful, and it’s definitely "out of this world."
