Four volunteers will be locked in a Mars simulation for a NASA project for a year

This Monday was the first morning that four people woke up in a terrestrial habitat that simulates the planet’s conditions Marsfor a project of the National Aviation and Space Administration (NASA) that will lock them up for an entire year to study the physical and psychological consequences of the group’s departure, in addition to the challenges of a real mission to the red planet.

In the Johnson space center, in Houston, Texas, is this 158 square foot habitat built with 3D printing. It has a living area with four small bedrooms, a living room, a room to grow food and an infirmary. In addition, there is an outdoor space that simulates the surface of Mars.

“The simulation enables us collect physical and cognitive performance data to help us learn more about the potential impact of long-duration missions to Mars on crew health and performance” said a statement released by NASA Grace Douglas, principal investigator of CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, in English).

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Astronomers and scientists will examine factors such as limited resources, faulty equipment, communication delays and other stressful environmental factors that could pose a challenge during a human expedition to Mars. ANDThis information will help NASA make decisions for designing and planning a future human mission to the planet.close to the earth.

According to NASA’s CHAPEA website, the crew’s main activities during the project may include simulated spacewalks, including virtual reality, communications, growing crops, preparing and eating meals, exercise, hygiene activities, job maintenance, personal time , scientific work and sleep. .

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Who are the four volunteers living in the simulation?

The team consists of two scientists, an engineer and a doctor, who were selected after a phone call.