Four intrepid volunteers set out on an incredible voyage into a recreated Martian ecosystem.
Sealed inside for over a year, their mission is to unravel the intricacies of long-term living on another planet, all without ever leaving Earth’s surface.
Volunteers Begin Year-Long Simulated Martian Expedition in CHAPEA Mission
Known as CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog), this mission marks the first of three planned simulations, each aimed at expanding our knowledge of the challenges and requirements for successful long-duration human spaceflight.
Located at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas, the Mars Dune Alpha habitat serves as the home base for the crew.
This 1700 square-foot 3D-printed living space will house the volunteers as they go about their daily activities, which include work, exercise, sleep, and scientific experiments.
While confined within the habitat, the crew will also experience virtual reality-enabled Extra Vehicular Activities (EVAs), where they will briefly venture outside to an adjacent enclosure, simulating the red sands of Mars.
These excursions require the crew members to don space suits, replicating the conditions of a real spacewalk.
The four-member crew of CHAPEA boasts an impressive array of expertise. Kelly Haston, a biologist, brings her knowledge of life sciences to the mission, while Ross Brockwell, a structural engineer, contributes valuable insights into habitat design.
Nathan Jones, a physician, ensures the crew’s medical well-being, and Anca Selariu, a Navy microbiologist, provides expertise in microbiology.
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Preparing for Mars
Before being selected for the mission, they underwent rigorous testing and scrutiny, following the same protocols as aspiring astronauts.
Beyond the challenges of close quarters, the CHAPEA crew faces additional hurdles that simulate the realities of space travel.
Communication with the outside world is subject to a time delay, replicating the transmission time between Mars and Earth.
Messages can take up to 22 minutes to reach their destination, resulting in a round-trip communication time of 44 minutes.
This limitation forces the crew to adapt to the constraints faced by future Martian astronauts.
In terms of sustenance, the crew will adhere to a diet of freeze-dried foods akin to what future astronauts on Mars might consume.
This dietary regimen offers valuable insights into the nutritional requirements and practicalities of long-duration space missions.
Moreover, the crew will follow a meticulously planned schedule, mirroring the routines and activities of a real Mars mission.
This adherence to a simulated mission timeline allows researchers to gather valuable data on the crew’s physical and psychological well-being during extended space missions.
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