NASA's second year-long Mars simulation mission ends today
The second crew that spent a year inside NASA's simulated Mars habitat is emerging today, and the agency will stream it live.
NASA's second year-long Mars simulation mission, known as the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) 2, has concluded after 378 days. The final crew members, Ross Elder, Matthew Montgomery, Ellen Ellis, and James Spicer, exited NASA's mock Mars habitat on Monday, streaming the event live on YouTube and social media platforms starting at 3PM Eastern time.
The CHAPEA 2 mission took place within a 3D-printed 1,700-square-foot facility on NASA Johnson grounds in Houston, Texas. The crew lived and worked in the habitat, conducting Mars mission operations on Earth. They performed simulated spacewalks, maintained the habitat, and grew plants. Entering and exiting the habitat required passing through an airlock, adding to the realistic experience.
Beyond the isolation, the participants faced additional stressors similar to what future spacefarers to Mars and the moon would encounter, such as communication delays and resource limitations. NASA initiated the search for CHAPEA volunteers in 2023, with the first crew entering the habitat in June of that year. The agency has also opened applications for the Moon and Mars Exploration Analog, a subsequent year-long experience combining elements of CHAPEA with other NASA simulation programs, set to begin no earlier than August 2027.
Data collected from the CHAPEA missions will aid NASA in optimizing food system design for its future lunar missions and preparing for the long-term challenges of spending extended periods in space.
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