Four volunteers, Kelly Haston, Ross Brockwell, Nathan Jones, and Anca Selariu, have entered a simulated Mars habitat on a year-long mission as part of NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) program.
Although they are not trained astronauts, they were selected for the mission from a pool of applicants. The participants will face various challenges designed to replicate the conditions and difficulties of a real human mission to Mars.
The simulated Mars habitat, located at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, is a 3D-printed structure spanning 1,700 square feet and includes living quarters, a kitchen, bathrooms, medical facilities, work areas, and recreational spaces.
During their time in the habitat, the crew will engage in mission activities such as simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, crop cultivation, habitat maintenance, personal hygiene, and exercise.
They will also encounter obstacles and stressors, including limited resources, equipment failures, communication delays, and environmental factors, to mimic the challenges of an actual Mars mission.
The purpose of the simulation is to gather data on the cognitive and physical performance of the crew, providing insights into the potential impacts of long-duration missions to Mars on human health and performance.
NASA aims to utilize this information to make informed decisions and develop plans for successful future human missions to Mars.
This year-long mission is the first of three planned Mars surface simulations, and the knowledge gained from these missions, combined with ongoing lunar exploration, will contribute to NASA’s preparations for sending astronauts to Mars.
