. NASA is seeking four individuals to participate in a year-long mission in a simulated Mars environment.
Curious about living on Mars? NASA is offering the opportunity to experience life on the Red Planet through a simulated mission. The agency is seeking volunteers to spend a full year in a mock Martian environment, in order to assist with preparations for future human missions to the planet.
NASA has announced that they will be conducting a series of three missions, each with four volunteers living in a 1,700-square-foot Mars simulation. These missions, known as CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog), will take place in a 3D-printed Mars habitat at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
The Mars Dune Alpha simulation replicates a potential Mars living environment, featuring separate designated spaces for both living and work. It consists of four individual living spaces for each participant, a designated work area, a medical center, common areas for relaxation, and facilities for cooking and growing food.
NASA
Similar to the conditions on real Mars, resources will be scarce in the simulation. Participants will engage in simulated spacewalks and be responsible for maintaining the habitat, cultivating crops, and operating robotics. They will also encounter the typical environmental challenges of the planet, as well as deal with equipment malfunctions and communication delays.
NASA has dispatched multiple equipment to conduct flybys of Mars and deploy rovers to investigate its terrain. However, Mars has only been visited by robots and not humans, as the planet operates on a 24.6 hour-day system known as sols. One Martian year consists of 669.6 sols.
The composition of its atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon gases, resulting in a hazy, dusty red sky. The temperature can vary from a high of 70 degrees Fahrenheit to a low of -225 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Source: cbsnews.com