Published on February 24, 2024 at 4:44 p.m
How will astronauts react when they are millions of miles from Earth during their journey to Mars? To find out, NASA is looking for guinea pigs.
Under observation
Are you interested in flying to the planet Mars in a flight simulator for a year? NASA is looking for healthy people between the ages of 30 and 55. Four volunteers will spend 378 days on Mars Dune Alpha, a 158 square meter space that replicates the living conditions of astronauts who will one day land on Mars. The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) program is a series of Mars mission simulations that will last about a year.
Photo: NASA
Realistic testing
The Mars Dune Alpha is a 3D printed space that replicates a base on the planet Mars. The volunteers selected to run the simulation will face complex but likely situations when considering a space trip of this magnitude. Equipment failures, long communication delays, stressors and living with very limited resources are elements observed by NASA experts.
Photo: NASA
Only we
To apply by April 2, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, in good health, between the ages of 30 and 55, and have a master's degree in science. The selection process will take more than a year, so the simulation is expected to begin in spring 2025. This will be the second stage of the CHAPEA program. The first began on June 25, 2023 and ends in July.