NASA Seeks Citizen Volunteers for Yearlong Simulated Mars Mission
NASA is calling on citizen volunteers to participate in a yearlong simulated Mars mission at the Johnson Space Center in Houston starting in Spring 2025. The volunteers will be living in a 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed habitat known as Mars Dune Alpha for the duration of the 378-day mission.
The simulated Mars mission is part of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) program, which aims to study the physical and psychological effects of long-duration space missions on astronauts. This mission will be the second of three planned programs under the CHAPEA initiative.
Participants in the mission can expect to face challenges such as limited resources, equipment malfunctions, and communication delays. Activities during the simulation will include simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, exercise routines, and even growing crops in a controlled environment.
Applicants for the mission must be healthy, nonsmoking U.S. citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 30-55. They must also hold a master’s degree in STEM or a bachelor’s degree with relevant experience. Compensation will be provided for those selected to participate in the mission.
The deadline to apply for the simulated Mars mission is April 2, and interested individuals can submit their applications on NASA’s CHAPEA website. This is a unique opportunity for qualified individuals to experience what it might be like to live and work on Mars, and contribute to the future of space exploration.
