NASA seeks volunteers for year-long Mars simulation mission

NASA is recruiting four volunteers for a one-year simulated mission to the Moon and Mars as part of the new Moon and Mars Exploration Analog (MMEA) program. The experiment will take place at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, starting in August 2027. Source: CNN Source: Excelsior Source: Infobae

Requirements

Applicants must meet strict criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (Green Card holder). Source: Infobae
• Age between 30 and 55 years (exceptions possible). Source: CNN
• Height under 1.88 meters (6 feet 2 inches). Source: CNN
• Fluent in English. Source: Infobae
• No sleepwalking history or reliance on sleep medication. Source: Infobae
• No dietary restrictions. Source: Infobae
• Pass physical and psychological evaluations. Source: Excelsior
• Hold a degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, or math (or advanced STEM degree). Source: CNN

What volunteers will do

The mission is divided into three phases. The first and third simulate interplanetary travel inside a 60-square-meter spacecraft replica. The middle phase moves to an 84-square-meter habitat where crew members conduct simulated spacewalks, operate rovers, and grow their own food. Source: Excelsior Source: CNN Researchers will monitor sleep, stress, cognitive performance, and adaptation to the Martian day (40 minutes longer than Earth's). Source: Infobae The program lasts about 14 months, including two months of training and one year in isolation. Source: Excelsior