STAY CONNECTED: Have the stories that matter most delivered every night to your email inbox. Subscribe to our daily local news wrap.
(Image Credit: Jen Carver Hunter, supplied by Dan Barnfield)
By Curtis Galbraith
Space Exploration

Space suits, research and mud all part of former Peace Region man’s experience in Mars simulator

Oct 29, 2026 | 9:01 AM

A man originally from the Peace says he and six others did “some amazing projects” while inside a Mars habitat simulator in Utah.  

Dan Barnfield and his crewmates spent Thanksgiving week inside the simulator. 

He says simulated space walks, officially called EVAs for Extravehicular Activities, were part of the week. 

“When we get there, we spend one day just kind of learning about the facilities, and then there were about two to three days when we’re actually in what they call sims, or simulation.” 

“So, that means everything we do, we have to treat it as if we were our own crew on Mars, which means we can’t just walk out the door. In order to go out the door, we had to put on a special suit, a helmet, an air pack and all that.” 

Barnfield called the EVAs, where they drove around on rovers and did research work, “one of the coolest things I’ve ever done.” 

He adds his time there was “full of surprises”, the biggest one being the weather. 

“When we got there, it was raining for two-three days straight. The Utah desert isn’t really known for holding all that water, so, all of a sudden,  it was just mud everywhere, and a lot of flash flooding and stuff like that.” 

“Talking to some of the locals there, they’re like ‘Yeah, we’ve never seen it like this.’ It doesn’t happen like that in the desert.” 

Barnfield says he still wants to go to Mars. 

“I’ve always wanted to go to Mars. Every girlfriend I ever had before I got married, I’ve always told them… hey, if aliens come to abduct me, I’m going. I don’t care!” 

Barnfield says he got to work on lessons for his kid’s show called BLAST OFF!. He has also been busy talking to Grade 3, 4 and 5 science classes in and around Cochrane, where he now lives. 

He is hoping to go to other areas in Alberta, including the Peace Region.

by Curtis Galbraith