NASA is recruiting folks for a year-long experiment in an Earth-bound habitat built to simulate life on a distant world. The series of missions, known as Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, includes three one-year Mars surface simulations based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
In preparation for future trips to the cosmos, the agency hopes to study “how highly motivated individuals respond under the rigor of a long-duration, ground-based simulation.” The simulation will also support research and development of technologies to prevent and resolve potential problems.
Analog missions—situations on Earth that produce physical, mental, and emotional effects on the human body similar to those experienced in space—are “critical” if humans plan to live for any length of time on the Martian surface, according to Grace Douglas, lead scientist for NASA’s Advanced Food Technology research effort. “Simulations on Earth will help us understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they go,” she explained.
Each endeavor involves four crew members living and working in a 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed module, dubbed Mars Dune Alpha (pictured above). The habitat simulates real-life challenges like resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays, and other environmental stressors.
Crew tasks may include simulated spacewalks, scientific research, use of virtual reality and robotic controls, and exchanging communications. Interested participants can apply online. NASA is looking for healthy and “motivated” US citizens or permanent residents who are non-smokers, age 30 to 55, and proficient in English.
A master’s degree in a STEM field with at least two years of professional experience, or a minimum of 1,000 hours piloting an aircraft is required. Candidates who have completed two years of work toward a doctoral program in STEM, a medical degree, or a test pilot program will also be considered, as well as those with four years of professional experience, completed military officer training, or a Bachelor of Science in a STEM field.
