NASA Is Locking Researchers in Mars Simulator for a Year to Learn About Life on the Red Planet
NASA has been sending non-crewed spacecraft to Mars for decades, but the idea of humans stepping foot on the Red Planet one day has long seemed out of our reach. Thanks to four brave volunteers, the space exploration authority will be able to learn more about what life will look like for astronauts on Mars.
On June 25, NASA locked four strangers in its "Mars Dune Alpha" simulator, where they'll remain for a total of 378 days. The 1,700-square-foot habitat at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is entirely 3D-printed and designed to emulate conditions on our closest planetary neighbor. By having NASA scientists observe the crew dealing with resource limitations, equipment failures, communication delays, and other potential problems a real-life crew might encounter, the space agency can be as prepared as possible when the time finally arrives to send a crewed mission to Mars.
The Mars Dune Alpha trial is the first of three planned Crew Health and Performance Analog (CHAPEA) missions, with the next ones slated for 2025 and 2026. Research scientist Kelly Haston, structural engineer Ross Brockwell, emergency medicine physician Nathan Jones, and U.S. Navy microbiologist Anca Selariu were selected from thousands of applicants for the yearlong mission.
"The knowledge we gain here will help enable us to send humans to Mars and bring them home safely," CHAPEA principal investigator Grace Douglas said at a press conference before the experiment began. "Our best wishes go with you as you begin this adventure of discovery."
Haston was named the commander of the simulated Mars mission and was immensely proud of her team for taking on such a daunting task. "We are determined to produce the best possible data for the teams that have poured their hard work and spirit into this project," she said. "It is a career and personal highlight to be both scientist and test subject and produce data that may enable new methods and safer space travel and habitation one day."
Brockwell believes that human exploration of Mars will help teach us more about ourselves. "It will inspire us to take care of each other and take care of this beautiful and wonderful planet, this wonderful world that will always be our home," he said. "I'm honored and I'm grateful and super excited to be a part of this and part of this great crew to help put a contribution to put us on the path to Mars."
The four will not be allowed to leave the simulated Mars habitat until July 7, 2024. For now, we'll have to live with photos from NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers.
