Topline
NASA sealed four people into an isolated habitat at Johnson Space Center on Sunday, where they will spend the next year living like Mars astronauts—the first of three missions designed to simulate the Mars experience on Earth, as NASA prepares for human exploration of the red planet.
A simulated Mars exterior portion of the CHAPEA’s Mars Dune Alpha at the Johnson Space center in … [+] Houston, Texas on April 11.
Key Facts
The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA)’s Mars Dune Alpha is a 3D printed, 1,700-square-foot chamber in Houston, Texas, meant to simulate their dwellings on the Martian surface.
For 378 days, NASA researchers will replicate the challenges of a real mission to Mars, including simulated spacewalks, resource limitations, communication delays, and equipment failures.
Researchers will study the crew and collect data on their physical and behavioral health.
The participating crew includes a research scientist, an engineer, a physician and a U.S. Navy microbiologist—NASA selected the crew members using the same criteria as astronauts, meaning they needed masters degrees and professional experience in the STEM field or extensive experience piloting an aircraft.
What To Watch For
NASA plans on conducting the second and third analog CHAPEA missions in 2025 and 2026.
Surprising Fact
The habitat includes private crew quarters, two bathrooms, and dedicated areas for recreation, fitness and work.
Key Background
The CHAPEA mission was announced in August 2021, and NASA selected the crew following a 2021 call for applicants. NASA is early in the process of trying to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon through the Artemis missions. Getting people on Mars is the next step and “focus” of Artemis, according to NASA. The agency has studied Mars for decades, sending uncrewed rovers to traverse the planet and look for signs of life. But Mars is 142 million miles away from Earth on average, so any mission to send humans to and from Mars—and station them on the planet for long enough to conduct research—could take well over a year, some experts say, posing engineering challenges and problems for crew members who will need to spend a long stint away from Earth.
Tangent
Analog missions are field tests that mimic the physical conditions of space, saving money and time and allowing researchers to develop preventative measures against space hazards. NASA runs other analog missions in remote, hostile conditions like Antarctica and the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, many of which are shorter than CHAPEA.
Crucial Quote
“These long duration mission simulations really bring Mars closer to us,” said Julie Kramer-White, Director of Engineering at NASA. “They help us realize Mars is within our reach as we try to address the issues and challenges that will face us in these long missions.”
Further Viewing
Further Reading
A Step Toward Mars – About CHAPEA (NASA)
NASA’S CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) & Mars Dune Alpha Habitat (NASA)
Inside The Mars Simulations Preparing Humans For Life On The Red Planet (CNN)
