- Event
- Performance
MARS!platz: Red Dust City
Long-term performance
Thu, October 15 – Tue, October 27, 2026
- Location
- Market Place Karlsruhe
- Entrance fee
- Free admission
A Mars mission in the heart of Karlsruhe.
What is life like on Mars? You can observe it right here on Karlsruhe’s Market Place.
For nearly two weeks, a white dome will become the habitat of Red Dust City. Three ZKM astronauts will live there under simulated Martian conditions and test ideas developed together with artists, experts, and citizens: How do we organize life together? How do we stay healthy in close confinement? How do we manage food, water, and other resources?
The MARS! habitat is not accessible to visitors, but you can follow the mission live from the Marktplatz and online. During daily EVAs (Extra Vehicular Activities), the astronauts will leave their habitat for outside missions. During discussion and communication sessions, you can follow their work, ask questions, and get in touch with the crew. The livestream at the Mission Control Station in the ZKM Karlsruhe Panolab (Foyer) will give you an overview of the astronauts’ condition inside the habitat: Is there still enough oxygen, food, and water? How is the crew feeling? What is the current mission the three astronauts are working on? At the Mission Control Station, on the project website marsplatz.zkm.de (which will go live at the start of the mission), and directly in front of the habitat, you can send us messages and discuss the question of the day with us.
A detailed mission plan shows what the crew is researching each day. The results will be continuously documented and shared publicly on the website.
Welcome to MARS!platz. Observe the mission, radio the crew, and discover with us: What could life on Mars look like? And what can we learn about life on Earth along the way?
Daily Schedule in the Habitat
Each day, the crew focuses on a specific question that they investigate and explore. Over the course of the day, they gather insights during three research blocks and ultimately record them in a digital logbook. The three astronauts must also take care of themselves inside the dome, including preparing their food and processing their water.
8:30 am: Breakfast, briefing on the day’s mission
9:30 – 11 am: Research Block I
11 am – 1 pm: Exercise & Lunch
1 – 3 pm: Research Block II
3 – 4 pm: Discussion Hour
The crew discusses life together in the MARS! habitat. The conversation can be heard by visitors on the Marktplatz.
4 – 5:30 pm: Research Block III – Outside Mission
The crew leaves the MARS! habitat and completes the day’s mission with a research excursion (EVA = Extra Vehicular Activity) in the area around the Marktplatz.
6 pm: Dinner
7 – 8 pm: Communication Hour
Visitors on the Marktplatz can ask the crew their questions. Questions submitted digitally will also be answered.
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