NEWS – After a year-long simulated Mars mission as part of the CHAPEA project, a NASA crew emerged from their 17,000 sq ft habitat at Johnson Space Centre.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Event: NASA crew concludes a year-long simulated Mars mission
• Location: Johnson Space Centre, Houston
• Date: Crew emerged on July 7, 2024
• Project: CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog)
• Habitat Size: 17,000 sq ft

Mission Details

• Start Date: June 25, 2023
• Crew Members: Kelly Haston (Mission Commander), Anca Selariu (Science Officer), Ross Brockwell (Flight Engineer), Nathan Jones (Mission Medical Officer)
• Duration: 378 days

Objectives

• Simulated Spacewalks: Referred to as “Marswalks”
• Resource Management: Cultivating and harvesting vegetables to supplement food supplies
• Health Maintenance: Focusing on physical and behavioral health under Mars-like conditions

Challenges

• Resource Limitations: Simulating the constraints of a Mars mission
• Isolation: Coping with psychological and social aspects of confinement
• Communication Delays: Up to 22-minute delays with Earth

Research and Findings

• Nutritional Impact: Studying how diet affects performance
• Sustainable Living: Importance of resource management and waste processing

Future Missions: Two more CHAPEA missions planned to continue research