2023-07-14 17:16:26
Four people undertook a year-long journey in a 3D-printed habitat designed to serve as an analog simulator for future Mars missions.
In Solace we explain what it is about CHAPEA-1the first of three NASA missions that will simulate the red planet on Earth.
A complete Martian habitat
The project Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) is a series of missions that will simulate one-year stays on the surface of Mars.
Each mission will be made up of four crew members who will live from June exactly 365 days on Mars Dune Alpha, an “isolated” habitat of just over 800 square meters in the Johnson Space Center of the US space agency in Houston, Texas, United States.
During the mission, astronauts will perform simulated spacewalks and will be required to provide data on various factors, including physical health.
In addition, the 3D-printed habitat will include private quarters for each crew member, a kitchen, and dedicated areas for medicine, recreation, fitness, work, crops, and two bathrooms.
four crew
Two scientists, an engineer and a doctor are the volunteers that make up this first controlled mission and will act as “astronauts” in CHAPEA-1.
They are: Kelly Hastoncommander and researcher of human diseases; Ross Brockwellflight engineer; Nathan Jones, medical officer and certified in emergency medicine; and Anca Selariuscientific officer and microbiologist.
CHAPEA’s 4 person crew just entered their home for the next year. They’re simulating a Mars mission to help assess health and performance in relation to Mars resource limitations in isolation and confinement. The door is officially closed and the mission has begun. Go Crew 1! pic.twitter.com/KKWKQ1opwg
— NASA’s Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) June 25, 2023
“As realistic as possible”
CHAPEA-1 has the objective of assess human health and performance in the face of resource constraints in isolation and confinement.
NASA anticipates including “stressors” such as equipment failures and significant workloads, as well as 5-10 minute communications delays.
“This simulation will allow us to collect physical and cognitive performance data to give us more information about the potential impacts of long-duration missions to Mars in terms of health and performance,” he told reporters. Grace Douglasthe principal investigator of CHAPEA.
Ultimately, they reported, the program will help NASA “make informed decisions to design and plan a successful human mission to Mars.”
The following analog missions are planned for 2025 and 2026.
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