The four members of a year-long Mars simulation emerged from their craft last week. Nathan Jones, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell, and Kelly Haston began the study on June 25, 2023.
Their mission was to prepare for a future Mars expedition. Consequently, the simulation required them to grow and harvest vegetables and maintain their habitat as if on the Red Planet.
READ: NASA asks volunteers to live like a Martian in CHAPEA 2
Article continues after this advertisement“CHAPEA-1 has been a unique experience, with great challenges, joys and sorrows, and a lot of hard work, with a fair bit of fun thrown in as well,” said Kelly Haston who commanded the mission.
FEATURED STORIES TECHNOLOGY vivo launches V40 Lite with 5000mAh battery covered by 50-month warranty, starts at Php 13,999 TECHNOLOGY Galaxy Buds3 Pro: Delivering tailored sound wherever you go TECHNOLOGY Very mindful, very intuitive: ASUS’ most superior AI PC yet, the Zenbook S 14, empowers you to achieve more What was the Mars simulation like?On April 20, the first CHAPEA crew reached 300 days inside the 1,700-square-foot habitat at @NASA_Johnson. The team of four volunteers are expected to complete the mission on July 6, 2024. https://t.co/UQYG5rBcQ1
— NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) April 23, 2024The official NASA website calls the Mars simulation CHAPEA or the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog. It lasted 300 days, where the crew participated in multiple “Marswalks.”
The latter involves growing and harvesting salad crops to supplement their shelf-stable food and maintaining their habitat and equipment.
Article continues after this advertisementThis Inquirer Tech article reported their daily routine also involved robotic operations and physical exercise. Moreover, they had to deal with the psychological and social issues of living with select individuals for an extended period.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Mars simulation was a 3D-printed environment at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. It spanned 1,700 square feet and contained these facilities:
Article continues after this advertisement Common lounge areas Dedicated medical station Dedicated workstations Four private crew quarters Galley and food growing stationsNASA celebrated the end of CHAPEA-1 with a “welcome home” ceremony on July 6, 2024. The space agency livestreamed the event.
“I am humbled that being away on a one-year Mars analog brought me closer to those I was with and those I left back at home,” simulation leader Kelly Haston said.
Article continues after this advertisementRoss Brockwell emphasized the importance of sustainability for the mission:
“I’m very grateful to have had this incredible opportunity to live for a year within the spirit of planetary adventure towards an exciting future.”
“I’m grateful for the chance to live the idea that we must utilize resources no faster than they can be replenished and produce waste no faster than they can be processed back into resources.”
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“We cannot live, dreammalubet online casino, create, or explore on any significant timeframe if we don’t live these principles. But if we do, we can achieve and sustain amazing and inspiring things like exploring other worlds.”
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