The four volunteers will spend 367 days living and working in an environment that mimics life on Mars. NASA’s CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) Habitat is a simulator to prepare for future missions to the red planet. The Mars Simulator has an area of ​​approximately 157 m² and is located at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, USA.

NASA wants to land on Mars in 2040 and this experiment is first big step to get humanity to Mars. Researcher Helly Huston is one of four on the project and says she was lucky to be part of the mission. “Being a scientist and guinea pig and producing data that could enable new methods and safer space travel is a professional and personal accomplishment.“.

Volunteers will spend a year in a Mars simulator

CHAPEA was The house is 3D printed and has a kitchen, two bathrooms, separate bedrooms, a work area, a relaxation area and a living room. The purpose of the mission, however, is not to give volunteers an easy life. Because the proposal is to simulate the hardships of life on Mars and will involve limited resources and equipment failures. “The habitat will mimic the challenges of a Martian mission, including lack of resources, equipment failure, communication delays, and other environmental stressors.“, NASA said in a statement.

Volunteers will be required to perform a number of activities, from equipment repair, spacewalk simulation, habitat maintenance, plant growing and robotic operations. Grace Douglas, NASA’s lead research scientist for advanced food technologies, says the simulations will collect data on cognitive and physical performance important for when humanity arrives on Mars. “Ultimately, this information will help NASA make informed decisions to develop and plan for a successful human mission to Mars.“.

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Source: Gizmodo

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