(Image via cnn.com)
Volunteer Writer: Emma Bowser
Email: ebowser@umassd.edu
NASA is currently seeking applicants for their second Mars simulation beginning in spring 2025.
The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) Project is located at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The simulations are run inside of Mars Dune Alpha, a habitat specially designed to mimic the unique challenges of life on Mars, “including resource limitations, equipment failures, communication delays, and other environmental stressors.”
Mars Dune Alpha is 1,700 square feet large and was 3D printed. It was designed to realistically simulate long-term exploration of the Red Planet and is accurate to the current designs for potential bases on Mars.
NASA affirms, “The area will include living quarters for each volunteer, a workspace, a medical station, lounge areas and a section to grow food.”
The simulation requires four people and will run for a full calendar year.
NASA hopes to eliminate problems attributed to personality types and similar issues by running three separate missions to gather as much data as possible.
The first CHAPEA simulation is scheduled to end on July 6th, 2024. Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell, and Nathan Jones are part of the crew, with all members having PhDs in their respective fields of study.
Kelly Haston is a biomedical researcher and ultrarunner who competed in ultramarathons with a distance of up to 100 miles. Anca Selariu is a microbiologist from Romania specializing in naval medicine. Ross Brockwell is a structural engineer interested in designing space stations. Nathan Jones is an emergency medicine physician who has taken the position of medical officer.
The Artemis mission, which lays out NASA’s plans to land the first woman and person of color on the moon long-term, is largely playing into the CHAPEA missions.
“[W]e will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.”
To be eligible for the second mission, applicants must be “U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are non-smokers, 30-55 years old, and proficient in English for effective communication between crewmates and mission control.” They are prioritizing applicants interested in continuing to contribute to NASA’s progress toward putting humans on Mars after the simulation is finished.
Other requirements include a master’s degree in STEM and two years of experience in one’s respective field. In addition, applicants who have completed two years of work toward a PhD earned a medical degree, or have sufficient qualifications as a pilot will also be considered.
Applicants must pass the astronaut physical exam and “at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time on a jet aircraft.”
The entire process could take up to thirteen months because there will be rigorous testing to ensure applicants are fully sound physically and mentally to embark on the simulation. Tests include psychological and psychiatric components as well as medical and athletic checks.
NASA states, “Food allergies or certain medications could cause applicants to be disqualified. While being screened, candidates can find out how they will be compensated for their time if selected.”
The screening process also includes a criminal background check, which must be passed. Payment will also be discussed with the applicants during screening.
Applications are open to the public until April 2nd, 2024, 6:00 PM EST.
After applying, selected applicants will be contacted for more information. Information submitted in the form will be analyzed to inform requirements for future CHAPEA projects and experiments.
For more information, read NASA’s official CHAPEA page.