How can research for future missions to Mars contribute to sustainable technologies on Earth? This question was at the centre of the Cluster of Excellence “The Martian Mindset” exhibition at IdeenExpo 2026 in Hanover. At the joint stand of the University of Bremen, HSB – City University of Applied Sciences Bremen, and Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, students and other visitors had the opportunity to explore current research through interactive exhibits.
The Cluster of Excellence “The Martian Mindset” brings together researchers from different disciplines to investigate how materials and components could be produced under the extreme environmental conditions and limited resource availability of Mars. A central aspect of this research is the use of locally available resources. Instead of transporting all required materials from Earth, future missions could use resources found on Mars to manufacture components and other materials directly at the destination. This approach is known as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU).
Visitors at IdeenExpo could explore these challenges through a Mars-Earth simulation game. The game demonstrated the different stages involved in extracting materials, processing resources, and manufacturing components under conditions where resources, energy, and infrastructure are limited. This gave participants an insight into how decisions made during one stage of production can affect subsequent steps.
Another hands-on activity focused on the design of a prototype rover wheel. Visitors could disassemble and reassemble the wheel to explore questions of product design and manufacturing for future space missions. A rover is a remotely operated vehicle designed to travel across the surface of another planetary body. Its components must be adapted to demanding environmental conditions while remaining functional, lightweight, and suitable for the available manufacturing processes.
A virtual reality (VR) experience provided another perspective on future Mars research. Using VR glasses, visitors could explore a simulated laboratory environment illustrating how research and production facilities might operate during future missions to Mars.
Kirsten Tracht, Co-Spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence and Head of the cluster’s “Operating” research area, and Daniel Meyer, Vice-Spokesperson of the cluster and Senior Engineer for Production Technology at the Leibniz Institute for Materials-Oriented Technologies (IWT), were available throughout the event to discuss the research with visitors. The “Operating” research area investigates how production systems and processes can function under the challenging conditions expected on Mars.
With more than 400,000 visitors, IdeenExpo 2026 provided an opportunity to introduce a broad audience, particularly young people, to research at the interface of space exploration, materials science, and production technology. The event also highlighted how addressing the challenges of producing and using resources on Mars can provide new perspectives on resource-efficient and sustainable production on Earth.
