Iceland review - 2019, Side 50

46
Iceland Review
The Lava Centre is situated at Hvolsvöllur on the South Coast of Iceland,
surrounded by active volcanoes. It truly acts as the gateway to Iceland’s
most active volcanic area.
The Lava Centre just received two Red Dot Awards, which cement its
position as a world class exhibition.
A world class exhibition on volcanoes and
earthquakes surrounded by active volcanoes
MORE INFO AND TICKETS AT
www.lavacentre.is
Open every day
9:00 - 19:00
Volcano & Earthquake Centre
Austurvegur 14, Hvolsvöllur · South Iceland
VOLCANO &
EARTHQUAKE
EXHIBITION
the surrounding terrain as it moves and plot it out.
According to Ewan Reid, CEO of Mission Control (and
coincidentally brother to Iceland’s First Lady Eliza
Reid), the system allows the rover to move more effi-
ciently and safely, as scientists get real-time terrain
and soil data rather than having to painstakingly go
through data to assess the area and determine the
rover’s next move.
“We’ve learned how beneficial the ASAS can be,”
Ewan explains. “It’s nice to see the system working
so well, being able to pick out the difference between
small pebbles and large pebbles. It can pick out the
gravel, the bedrock, and the sand all by itself. The
scientists use that to streamline operations and
optimally have more science time. If they’re more
efficient in their work, that means we’re getting more
out of the mission.” The way he sees it, Iceland rep-
resents a two-for-one deal when it comes to repli-
cating space. “Usually on Earth, when we find a good
natural analogue for a space location, it’s for one or
the other – it’s not for both – so I think there’s a lot of
opportunities for space research in Iceland.”
Heading back to Reykjavík, it feels weird to think
that only 100 kilometres away, Mars is alive and well.
“INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,
ICELAND IS A VERY GOOD
ANALOGUE FOR THE
MOON AS WELL.