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Budget: $15 – $25 USD
Hard to imagine what life on Mars would be like, no? Because NASA thinks too. To find out, the American space agency is recruiting volunteers who will be part of a mission designed to simulate a one-year stay on the red planet. All of this, of course, from the comfort of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
The first of three simulations NASA is planning begins in the second half of 2022. The missions are designed to emulate the difficulties and challenges the crew may face millions of miles from Earth. "Experience is critical to testing solutions that meet the complex needs of life on the Martian surface. Earth simulations will help us understand and combat the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they depart," said Grace Douglas, chief scientist from the Johnson Space Center in Houston in a statement.
Each mission will have four crew members who will live and work within an isolated 160 square meter habitat, the Mars Dune Alpha. The habitat was 3D printed by Icon technology company and designed by the architectural firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. The space includes separate rooms for each crew member, two bathrooms, a kitchen, exercise and recreation areas, and a space for planting. Mars Dune Alpha will also house medical rooms and a technical work area.
Applicants must be healthy, aged between 30 and 55, and must be US citizens or permanent residents. They must also have a master's degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and two years of work experience. Or have at least a thousand hours of flight flying jet aircraft. In addition, they must pass NASA's long-term flight astronaut physical test. Registration for the first mission is now open until September 17, 2021. Two other missions are scheduled for 2024 and 2025.
The first of three simulations NASA is planning begins in the second half of 2022. The missions are designed to emulate the difficulties and challenges the crew may face millions of miles from Earth. "Experience is critical to testing solutions that meet the complex needs of life on the Martian surface. Earth simulations will help us understand and combat the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they depart," said Grace Douglas, chief scientist from the Johnson Space Center in Houston in a statement.
Each mission will have four crew members who will live and work within an isolated 160 square meter habitat, the Mars Dune Alpha. The habitat was 3D printed by Icon technology company and designed by the architectural firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. The space includes separate rooms for each crew member, two bathrooms, a kitchen, exercise and recreation areas, and a space for planting. Mars Dune Alpha will also house medical rooms and a technical work area.
Applicants must be healthy, aged between 30 and 55, and must be US citizens or permanent residents. They must also have a master's degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and two years of work experience. Or have at least a thousand hours of flight flying jet aircraft. In addition, they must pass NASA's long-term flight astronaut physical test. Registration for the first mission is now open until September 17, 2021. Two other missions are scheduled for 2024 and 2025.