Step inside The Airlock Module Podcast, where analog astronaut Yuki Nishimura explores the human side of space exploration. Each episode dives into real stories from Mars simulation crews, scientists, and engineers, uncovering how life in isolation, teamwork, and innovation prepare us for the stars and teach us about life on Earth.
Step inside The Airlock Module Podcast, where analog astronaut Yuki Nishimura explores the human side of space exploration. Each episode dives into real stories from Mars simulation crews, scientists, and engineers, uncovering how life in isolation, teamwork, and innovation prepare us for the stars and teach us about life on Earth.
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