Four volunteers are about to enter a simulated Martian habitat where they will spend the next 378 days as part of ongoing preparations for the first crewed mission to the distant planet. In 3 days, their lives will change completely. So what will this test of life on Mars look like?
Countdown to test life on Mars
The custom-designed habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas will be the new home for Alyssa Shannon, Ross Brockwell, Kelly Haston and Nathan Jones, starting Sunday, June 25. This four-man Mars crew will spend exactly 378 days here. Advanced crew in science, engineering and healthcare will showcase their skills during their stay here.
The mission will be the first of three one-year Mars surface simulations, called CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Reconnaissance Analog). Nasa emphasizes that the crew will fully experience the challenges of a manned mission to Mars, including confinement, resource limitations, equipment failures and other environmental factors.
To increase the realism of the experience, the potential for communication breakdowns and delays due to the great distance between Earth and Mars will also be addressed. Volunteers’ health and performance will be continuously monitored to provide information to planners for the future mission. Activities will consist of conducting scientific research, protecting the habitat and doing “Marswalks”.
The CHAPEA living space, where the crew of four will live for more than a year, covers 1700 square feet with approximately nine rooms, including private bedrooms, shared bathroom and toilet, and a common area where everyone can gather to dine and eat. The facility was built using large 3D printers that are part of the research as similar construction methods could be used on Mars.
NASA aims to send the first human crew to Mars in the late 2030s, but it’s worth noting, that date may be delayed. To date, the only celestial body that humans have traveled to is our Earth’s satellite, the Moon. Of course, this task will be much more challenging, as Mars is much farther away and has harsh conditions.
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