NASA is looking for volunteers to participate in a year-long simulation on Mars in a 157-square-meter 3D-printed habitat at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The project aims to gain insights into the challenges of human exploration on the red planet.
Participants will encounter scenarios resembling situations that may arise during actual missions, such as constraints on resources, equipment malfunctions, and communication disruptions.
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, aged between 30 and 55, a non-smoker, fluent in English, hold a postgraduate degree in STEM or medicine, and have relevant professional or piloting experience.
This initiative is a component of the CHAPEA program, aiming to ready NASA for upcoming extended missions beyond Earth.
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Participants will simulate life on Mars by conducting research tasks, hiking simulations, and managing resources while disconnected from the outside world. This exercise will provide NASA with important data on the psychological and physical challenges of living in isolated environments, crucial for future manned missions to Mars.
A video below shows the process of constructing homes using large 3D printers.
How can one take part?
Registration for the 12-month CHAPEA Mars Simulation Mission opens on February 16, 2024, and closes on April 2, 2024. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and once submitted, responses are considered final. The selection process, which includes a criminal background check, may last 12 to 14 months.
