"One Year on the Moon or Mars"...NASA Now Recruiting for Simulation Participants

Only U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents Eligible to Apply
Life in an Environment Simulating Outer Space

NASA. Yonhap News.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is currently recruiting participants for its lunar and Mars exploration simulation experiment (MMEA).

On July 9 (local time), CNN reported that NASA is accepting applications for its year-long simulation program, MMEA, which is designed to allow participants to experience what it would be like to travel to and live on the Moon or Mars.

This simulation will take place at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, United States, sometime after August of next year. NASA will select four participants, who will live in a sealed environment similar to space, performing astronaut-like tasks such as growing crops, managing their health, and simulating spacewalks.

Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 30 and 55 are eligible to apply for this simulation. However, candidates outside this age range may also be considered. Applicants must be no taller than 188 cm and fluent in English.

Applicants must also have a bachelor’s degree in fields such as engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics, similar to astronauts. Military experience is also taken into consideration. Those with advanced degrees in STEM fields are eligible to apply as well.

Applicants with a history of sleepwalking or who have taken sleeping pills are not eligible, and there should be no dietary restrictions. After passing physical and psychological evaluations, candidates can participate in the experiment.

Applicants must be willing to participate in the 14-month program held at the Johnson Space Center. The program consists of spending 12 months in two sealed environments simulating space and two months of training before and after the simulation.

Kelsey Spivy, a NASA spokesperson, stated, "The simulation will help reduce the risks that astronauts may face during space travel and Mars landings." She added that the experiment will also study how participants adapt to a Martian day, which is about 40 minutes longer than a day on Earth. A day on Mars is called a 'sol', and this difference in the passage of time compared to Earth can affect sleep, health, and task performance.

According to Spivy, "Previous simulations modeled well-established, large-scale planetary surface habitats, but this time, the experiment is designed to emulate the early stages of Mars surface infrastructure." She added, "This will help NASA address questions regarding short-term lunar base objectives."

Previously, NASA conducted 28 transportation and 2 planetary surface habitat simulations through the 'CHAPEA' (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) project, which simulates living on Mars. This MMEA simulation is the first project to integrate both transportation and habitat experiments.

In this experiment, NASA will divide the two simulated habitats into three stages. In the first stage, participants will live in a 60-square-meter mock spacecraft, simulating a journey to the Moon or Mars. The four participants will each have small spaces for living, working, and sleeping, as well as access to a small bathroom.

In the second stage, participants will move to an 84-square-meter, single-story facility to conduct experiments related to health management. They will also practice simulated spacewalks in a sandbox designed to resemble the surface of another planet. The final experiment involves returning to Earth aboard the mock spacecraft.

Nathan Jones, a physician who participated in the 2023 Mars habitat simulation, told CNN in an interview that the experience made him appreciate simple things in life.

Jones said, "During the year-long research period, I missed my wife and children. It was difficult not being able to celebrate birthdays, holidays, graduations, or family events." He continued, "The food provided by NASA was adequate, but the menu was limited. Except for a few vegetables we grew ourselves, there was nothing fresh." He added, "During the mission, there was no sunlight or wind. Only after the mission ended did I come to appreciate those things."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.