2024-07-16
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.
- CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) by NASA simulates year-long stays on Mars to gather data on food systems and human health patterns for future space missions.
- Four crew members will live in Mars Dune Alpha, a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed structure at Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, designed to mimic a realistic Mars habitat.
- The analog mission will include Mars-like challenges such as resource limitations, isolation, equipment failure, and heavy workloads.
- The crew will perform simulated spacewalks and provide data on physical and behavioral health and performance.
- Following the recent successful mission, two more CHAPEA missions are planned for 2025 and 2026.
