Scientists re-emerge after a year in Mars simulation project
July 7, 2024
The two women and two men spent the last 378 days in Houston's Mars Dune Alpha habitat, designed to mimic Red Planet conditions. They spent the year conducting "Marswalks" and operating under "additional stressors."
As they left the habitat, the four volunteers were visibly emotionalImage: JOSE ROMERO/AFP
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After a year, four scientists in the United States on Saturday ended an experiment that simulated life on Mars.
To loud applause, the four volunteers left NASA-built Mars Dune Alpha, where they had spent the past 378 days completely isolated from the outside world.
The 160-square-meter structure at the Johnson Space Center in Houston was designed to mimic conditions on the Red Planet. The habitat is a 3D-printed facility, complete with bedrooms, a gym, common areas, and a vertical farm for growing food.
The structure also features an outdoor area, separated by an airlock. The space is filled with red sand and is where the team donned suits to conduct their "Marswalks."
Life as on Mars: NASA unveils Mars Dune Alpha
Four volunteers on 160 square meters: For one year, they are to test what life on Mars might look like. The U.S. space agency NASA expects this to provide important information for possible Mars missions.
Image: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
As realistic as possible
Starting in June, four volunteers will move into NASA's Mars Dune Alpha house to test life on the Red Planet. For this purpose, they will live for a year in a converted hangar on the research grounds of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Here, several rooms, an outdoor simulation area and, above all, lots of red sand await the future participants.
Image: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
Isolation, the main problem of possible missions
In a first experiment, scientists want to test how humans cope with prolonged isolation and stressful situations. This should help NASA assess what "resources" are needed for future astronauts to survive a Mars mission, says Grace Douglas, who heads the Chapea program responsible for the experiment.
Image: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
Little space on Mars
The volunteers cannot take much luggage with them. They will live in small bedrooms in the house on the research site during the year. The house is built entirely using 3D printing. This is one of the technologies NASA is considering as a possibility for constructing buildings on other planets or the lunar surface, says project manager Grace Douglas.
Image: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
Space for experiments
In addition to the bedrooms, "Mars Dune Alpha" has two bathrooms, a medical care room, an area for relaxing and several work areas. During their time, the researchers will regularly test how the volunteers react to stress — for example, when water runs low or equipment breaks down.
Image: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
Matching boots for Mars landscape
Participants exit the 3D house via an airlock to a replica of the Martian environment. With lots of red sand, life on Mars is to be recreated as realistically as possible.
Image: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
Fit in isolation
Suspended from harnesses to mimic the lower gravity on Mars, the fictional astronauts will simulate trips outside on treadmills. They will collect samples, gather data and continue to build infrastructure. "We really can't have them just walking around in circles for six hours," joked Suzanne Bell, director of the Behavioural Health and Performance Laboratory.
Image: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
Growing vegetables on Mars
In addition to a weather station, the research center also offers a vertical farm for growing lettuce and other plants. Here, participants can grow vegetables to be self-sufficient during the time.
Image: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
Important insights for future missions
A total of three long-term experiments are planned at the site. The hope is to obtain "important information" for a longer stay in isolation. However, Nasa is still at the very beginning of its preparations for a trip to Mars. First, the space agency is concerned with the Artemis mission: For the first time in half a century, humans are to travel to the moon again.
Image: Go Nakamura/REUTERS
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What did the scientists do?
Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell, Nathan Jones and team leader Kelly Haston have spent the last year growing vegetables, conducting "Marswalks" and operating under what NASA calls "additional stressors."
These included communication delays with "Earth," including their families; isolation; and confinement.
As they left the habitat on Saturday, the four volunteers were visibly emotional.
"We can do these things together," Brockwell said. "We can use our senses of wonder and purpose, to achieve peace and prosperity and to unlock knowledge and joy for the benefit of everyone in every part of planet Earth," he added.
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What is the goal of the mission?
The mission was the first in a series called Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA). Its goal is to help NASA prepare to send humans back to the moon and, one day, to Mars.
Julie Kramer, NASA's director of engineering, said the project "gives us an opportunity to learn all these critical things about these complex systems, and it's going to make going to Mars and back a lot safer."
Additional CHAPEA missions are planned for 2025 and 2027, she said.
A year-long mission to simulate life on Mars took place in a habitat in Hawaii in 2015-2016. NASA participated but did not lead the mission.
As part of its Artemis program, the US plans to send humans back to the Moon to learn how to live there long-term. This will help prepare for a trip to Mars sometime in the late 2030s.
