On Friday, NASA announced that it is taking applications for a simulated one-year mission to Mars.
Spring 2025 will see the launch of the second of three ground-based missions that are part of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) program.
At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed base serves as the home and workplace for four crew members on this mission.
The Mars Dune Alpha habitat is designed to mimic the difficulties of living on Mars, such as scarce resources, malfunctioning equipment, sporadic communication, and environmental conditions.
In addition to providing data on a range of topics, including physical and mental health, the crew will practice space walks, perform robotic tasks, grow crops, and exercise.
To ensure efficient communication between crew members and mission control, applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 30 and 55, be fluent in English, and not smoke.
Additionally necessary is a master’s degree in a STEM subject like computer science, engineering, or mathematics.
April 2 is the deadline for submissions.
NASA says the critical data from the CHAPEA missions will help determine what will be needed for next Mars missions. In the meantime, the organization is establishing an Artemis campaign to establish a long-term scientific exploration of the moon.
NASA intends to construct an Artemis base camp and a gateway to enable the transportation of astronauts from lunar orbit to the moon’s surface. According to the agency, this mission will also contribute to future Mars exploration plans.
