Living on Mars: NASA Seeks Volunteers for Simulated Mars Experiment in Futuristic Building
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on Mars? Well, NASA is offering a unique opportunity for four brave individuals to experience just that. The space agency is currently seeking volunteers for a simulated Mars experiment, where they will be locked up for over 12 months inside the Mars Dune Alpha building at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This futuristic structure aims to replicate the kind of habitat that humans will eventually build when they finally make their way to the red planet.
The experiment, known as the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA), will commence next year following a rigorous 13-month selection process. This will be the second group of volunteers to participate in the CHAPEA program, with the first group beginning their stay in June 2023. Each participant will reportedly receive $10 for every waking hour they spend inside the base, amounting to approximately $60,000.
During their time inside the Mars Dune Alpha building, the volunteers will be tasked with conducting simulated spacewalks and providing valuable data on their physical and behavioral health. They will also face extreme isolation and separation from their loved ones, which will undoubtedly test their mental resilience. The building itself is equipped with various features and facilities, including four small rooms, a gym, two bathrooms, a vertical farm, a medical care room, workstations, a treadmill, and even an airlock that leads to an “outdoor” reconstruction of the Martian environment.
One of the key objectives of the CHAPEA program is to gain insights into how humans will cope with the challenges of living on Mars. NASA hopes that this experiment will provide valuable information on resource use and support systems for future astronauts. Grace Douglas, NASA’s lead researcher on the project, emphasized the importance of understanding how they can better support astronauts during long-duration missions.
While the opportunity to participate in this simulated Mars experiment may sound enticing, NASA has set strict selection criteria for potential volunteers. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 30 and 55, with at least two years of related professional experience in a STEM field or 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time on jet aircraft. They must also pass physical and medical assessments, undergo psychological testing, be vaccinated for COVID-19, and have no criminal background, among other requirements.
If you meet the criteria and have always dreamed of experiencing life on Mars, now is your chance. Applications are currently open and will be accepted until April 2, with a start date scheduled for spring next year. This is an incredible opportunity to contribute to the future of space exploration and gain a unique perspective on what it takes to live on another planet.
In other Mars-related news, recent studies conducted by scientists at Caltech using NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have revealed that water flowed on Mars as recently as 2 billion to 2.5 billion years ago. This discovery suggests that liquid water existed on the Martian surface for one billion years longer than previously thought. The presence of chloride salt deposits indicates the existence of rivers and ponds, challenging previous beliefs that Mars’ liquid surface water evaporated around 3 billion years ago.
These findings further highlight the significance of NASA’s efforts to understand the conditions on Mars and prepare for future human missions. With plans to put the first humans on Mars in the 2030s, NASA’s research and simulated experiments like CHAPEA are crucial steps towards achieving this ambitious goal. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of the red planet, one thing is clear – the journey to Mars is closer than ever before.
