NASA sent four people to a Mars simulation for a year. They are now back
NASA Mars simulation crew
NASA scientists who spent over a year in a Mars simulation left the red-planet-like atmosphere on Sunday. As part of NASA's Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog program (CHAPEA), the crew spent over a year experiencing a Mars-like habitat. The CHAPEA mission aims to understand the effects of the Mars atmosphere on the health of humans and the other challenges that they might face. The mission comprised 1,700 square feet (157 square meters)of 3D-printed habitat space that was set up at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell and Nathan Jones entered the Mars simulation on June 25, 2023.
"It's actually just so wonderful to be able to say 'hello' to you all," Kelly Haston, mission commander said.
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First Mars simulation experience
In the first CHAPEA mission, the crew practised several scenarios that astronauts in future might witness on Mars. They worked to establish conditions for future Mars operations by conducting spacewalks within the space, dubbed “Marswalks". They also grew and harvested vegetables to add to their food provisions and maintain the habitat and their equipment.
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The harder challenges included living in isolation and communication delays with Earth lasting up to 22 minutes.
"Why go to Mars? Because it's possible," Anca Selariu, the mission's science officer said. "Because space can unite and bring out the best in us. Because it's one defining step that 'Earthlings' will take to light the way into the next centuries."
Two more CHAPEA missions have been planned and the first mission focused on nutrition, Steve Koerner, deputy director of Johnson Space Center, said.
"They've been separated from their families, placed on a carefully prescribed meal plan and undergone a lot of observation," Koerner said.
Future CHAPEA missions
The second CHAPEA mission will be conducted in 2025 and the third in 2026.
NASA describes the CHAPEA missions as being important, saying the "results of CHAPEA and the knowledge gained from the analog missions will allow NASA to characterise the risk of the planned exploration food system design in relation to crew health and performance and inform NASA standards, associated vehicle mass and volume requirements, and resource-risk trades for long-duration exploration missions."
