Nadine Duursma: Communications Officer at Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission

About this episode

In this episode of The Airlock Module, Yuki sits down with Nadine Duursma, a TU Delft double-MSc student in Robotics & Space Engineering and visiting researcher at ESA’s Φ-lab. Fresh from the Monsaraz Mars Analog Mission, Portugal’s first, Nadine shares how her crew transformed an empty dome into a working habitat in 48 hours, then tackled EVAs in 35°C heat, rover tele-ops with latency, a drone drop emergency demo, plant growth trials, and searches for DNA traces in rocks. She also discusses her AI-based Tip & Cue satellite work at ESA, outreach to 50+ schools/2,000 students, and what’s next—from ÖWF Amadee-27 to a dream of Antarctica.

Nadine Duursma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadine-duursma-17031999/

Monsaraz Mission Site: https://www.olagoalqueva.com/en/worlds-biggest-analog

ESA’s Tip and Cue Project: https://cin.philab.esa.int/databases/projects/laying-the-foundation-for-ai-based-tip-and-cue

TU Delft’s Interview with Nadine about her book: https://delta.tudelft.nl/en/article/it-is-important-that-there-are-books-about-aerospace-for-girls-too

Amazon Netherlands link for Met Mama naar Mars: https://www.amazon.nl/Mama-naar-Mars-Karen-Akker/dp/9090382461

An Article on the Solar Cat Project: https://www.ellbru.nl/nieuws/aerodynamisch-engineer-verbakel-innovation-nadine-duursma

Podcast Cover Photo Credit:

Nadine Duursma. (2025). Ana Cristina Pires Facebook. photograph. Retrieved November 27, 2025, from https://www.facebook.com/anapires.co/posts/monsaraz-mars-analog-mission-in-portugalworlds-biggest-analog-meet-the-asp-1-nov/4673872376172936/

The Airlock Module Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/AirlockModule