Simulated Mars Mission


The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) project, initiated by NASA, embarked on its first mission on June 25, 20231. After 378 days of simulated living conditions, the first group of four volunteers participating in this project finally emerged from the simulated environment12.

The First CHAPEA Mission

The four volunteers, namely Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell, and Nathan Jones, began their journey in late June of the previous year2. They resided in a 3D printed building, simulating a Martian living environment, located in Houston, Texas1. The building spans 1700 square feet (approximately 157.94 square meters)1. The primary objective of their stay was to help assess the potential impacts on astronaut health and performance when living and working on Mars1.

Assisting in this endeavor were several key individuals, including Steve Koerner, Deputy Director of NASA, Kjell Lindgren, NASA astronaut and Deputy Director of Flight Operations, Grace Douglas, Principal Investigator of CHAPEA, Judy Hayes, Chief Science Officer of the Human Health and Performance Directorate, and Julie Kramer White, Director of Engineering23. They all played significant roles in the execution of this project23.

Implications and Future Plans

With the conclusion of this simulated living experience, NASA plans to use the various situations and data collected from these four volunteers over the past 378 days to estimate and adjust preparations for actual living conditions on Mars in the future12.

NASA has already begun recruiting volunteers for the second phase of the CHAPEA project2. The specific execution time has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected to commence in the spring of 20252. The recruitment process will be paid, and applicants must meet certain criteria. They must be U.S. citizens aged between 30 and 35, fluent in English, hold at least a master’s degree in a STEM field, have at least two years of professional work experience, and possess a minimum of 1000 hours of aircraft piloting experience or two years of flight experience2.

However, even if applicants do not hold a master’s degree or higher, they can still apply if they have professional experience in specific fields2. Moreover, having a doctoral degree in a STEM field could increase the chances of selection2.

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