If you've ever dreamed of living on Mars, now is your chance to make it a reality. Well, kind of. NASA is looking for BRAVE volunteers to join its second yearlong simulated Mars mission, starting in spring 2025.
The mission, called CHAPEA 2 (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog), is part of three ground-based experiments that aim to study the effects of living and working on the Red Planet. The mission's goal? Well, it will help NASA prepare for the real deal: sending humans to Mars in the 2030s.
Would you like to live on Mars? You can help us move humanity toward that goal by participating in a simulated, year-long Mars surface mission at @NASA_Johnson.
Learn how you—yes, you—can apply: https://t.co/DbK0dV7FnT pic.twitter.com/CWdIUUjuVf
— NASA (@NASA) February 16, 2024
What is in it for the participants?
The four selected crew members will live in a 3D-printed Mars Dune Alpha habitat at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The habitat is designed to mimic a Martian outpost's harsh and isolated conditions, with limited resources, equipment malfunctions, communication delays, and other challenges.
But if you think you will eat, sleep, and repeat, that is not the case here. The crew must perform various tasks, such as simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, exercise, and crop growth. They will also have to deal with the psychological and social aspects of living in a small group for a long time.
So, who makes the cut?
NASA is looking for applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, non-smokers, 30-55 years old, and fluent in English. The participants should also have a master's degree in a STEM field or equivalent professional or military experience. And, of course, they should have a passion for adventure and a willingness to contribute to NASA's mission.
The application process is open until April 2, 2024, on the CHAPEA website. The mission is paid, but the exact amount must be disclosed. Applicants must undergo a rigorous screening, including medical and psychological evaluations, interviews, and training.
NASA hopes the CHAPEA missions will provide valuable insights into the human factors and technologies needed for future Mars expeditions. The first CHAPEA mission, which started in August 2023, is ongoing, and the third is planned for 2026.
The CHAPEA missions are part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon and pave the way for human exploration of Mars. Under Artemis, NASA plans to land the first woman, the first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface and use the Moon as a testing ground for Mars.
If you think you have what it takes to be a Martian for a year, it could be the adventure of a lifetime and a chance to make history.
