NASA is currently searching for a four-person crew to participate in a year-long Mars simulation program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This program, called Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA), will be the second of three year-long simulations aimed at studying life and conditions on Mars. The mission is set to begin in the Spring of 2025.
The first crew, consisting of Commander Kelly Haston, flight engineer Ross Brockwell, medical officer Nathan Jones, and science officer Anca Selariu, has already been locked into the habitat known as Mars Dune Alpha since June 2023. They are currently more than halfway through their mission. The purpose of these simulations is to gather data that will help NASA prepare for future human exploration of Mars.
The Mars Dune Alpha habitat is designed to simulate the challenges that astronauts would face on a mission to Mars. This includes resource limitations, equipment failures, communication delays, and other environmental stressors. The crew members will be involved in various tasks such as robotic operations, spacewalks, habitat maintenance, exercise, and crop growth.
NASA is looking for healthy U.S. citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 30-55 who are proficient in English and non-smokers. The selection process will follow the same standards used for astronaut candidates. Candidates must have a master’s degree in a STEM field or over 1,000 hours of piloting experience. Other qualifications such as work completed toward a doctoral program, a medical degree, professional experience, military officer training, or a Bachelor of Science degree in a STEM field will also be considered.
The deadline to apply for this program is April 2. The selected crew members will be part of a simulated mission to Mars where they will eat, drink, exercise, and perform other daily activities. The habitat they will be living in is a 1,700-square-foot facility that is 3D printed and about the size of a three-to-four-bedroom house. It will be used for NASA’s longest analog mission to date, lasting 378 days.
While the habitat cannot simulate the gravity on Mars, virtual reality technology will be used to allow crew members to simulate spacewalks and other tasks they may encounter on Mars. Scientists will be closely monitoring the crew members’ performance, cognition, and health throughout the year to gain a better understanding of what future Mars explorers will experience.
Overall, this Mars simulation program is an important step in NASA’s preparations for human exploration of Mars. By studying the challenges and conditions faced by astronauts during these simulations, NASA can gather valuable data that will inform future missions to the red planet.