Scott Base: lessons for a Mars exploration programme

Abstract

Scott Base is New Zealand’s year-round Antarctic research station, and it provides an operationally established template for designing sustained human presence in extreme, remote environments such as Mars. This Perspective article compares organizational, logistical, scientific and governance structures of the New Zealand Antarctic programme with conceivable Mars mission architectures to highlight shared challenges in remote operations and draw practical lessons for future Mars exploration programmes. Parallels include overlapping crew rotations to preserve institutional memory, a mixed logistics model combining national assets, public and private partnerships, in situ resource utilization for water production and governance frameworks that prioritize science and environmental protection. Emerging Mars mission architectures, such as NASA’s Moon to Mars strategy and SpaceX’s Starship transport system, which plans to target ice-rich landing sites such as the Arcadia Planitia region, may mirror many aspects of Antarctic operations. Insights from Scott Base and the New Zealand Antarctic programme provide scalable strategies for developing a sustainable, internationally cooperative presence on Mars. Collectively, the New Zealand Antarctic model, underpinned by research, science diplomacy and international partnerships, offers valuable lessons for human settlement beyond Earth.