NASA "Recruiting People to Live 1 Year in Simulated Mars"... What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on the 21st (local time) that it is recruiting Mars residents to live in a simulated Mars environment for one year. This is aimed at research on human Mars exploration and habitation.

The selected participants will take part in the second phase of the analog mission "CHAPEA" (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog), which simulates living on Mars. CHAPEA is a field experiment conducted in an environment similar to space. Following the first phase that has been ongoing since June last year, the second phase will begin next spring. Participants will live in a simulated Mars habitat called "Dune Alpha." It was constructed using 3D printing at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and includes living spaces such as astronaut-exclusive accommodations.

Participants will engage in activities such as crop cultivation, research, and exercise, as well as perform tasks like operating robots and simulated spacewalks. They must also provide physical and health-related data during the mission period. Additionally, they will face problem scenarios that could realistically occur on Mars, including equipment malfunctions, communication delays, environmental stressors, and limited resources.

Applicants must be healthy U.S. citizens aged 30 to 55 and non-smokers. They must also be proficient in English to communicate effectively with fellow astronauts and the spaceflight control center. Furthermore, a master's degree or related degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields or medicine is required. Applicants must have at least two years of professional experience in their research field or a minimum of 1,000 flight hours as a jet pilot. They must also pass astronaut physical tests.

The application deadline is April 2. Final candidates will undergo medical, psychological, and psychiatric tests to confirm their mental and physical suitability for long-term isolated missions.