NASA unveils new Mars habitat simulation on Earth.

 Extract from ABC News

Posted 21 hours ago

The habitat has a "crop area" where the crew will grow leafy greens and vegetables for food.(Reuters: Go Nakamura)

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NASA plans to send astronauts to Mars sometime in the 2030s, but before take-off, the space agency will observe the effects of a four-person crew staying in a simulated Mars habitat for one year.

Key points:

• The simulation is known as the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA)
• Four crew members will live in the habitat for one year to simulate a realistic Mars environment
• Due to the isolation and confinement, the crew's mental health and social dynamics will also be evaluated

The simulated habit, known as the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA), is a 3D-printed structure located at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

It consists of four small bedrooms, two bathrooms, a work area adjacent to a robot station and exercise room, a medical room and an exterior, sandy area scattered with various instruments designed to mimic the surface of Mars.

"CHAPEA was developed as a one-year Mars surface simulation with the intent that we can have crew in isolation and confinement with Mars-realistic restrictions," Grace Douglas, NASA's advanced food technology lead scientist, said.

The exercise room consists of workout equipment in a Mars-like environment.(Reuters: Go Nakamura)

"And we can really start to understand how those restrictions are associated with their health and performance over that year."

One of the restrictions inside the habitat will be a limited amount of water.(Reuters: Go Nakamura)

One of those restrictions will be a limited amount of water. The space even has a "crop area" where the crew will grow leafy greens and vegetables for food.

Plant pods to grow vegetables are seen inside NASA's simulated Mars habitat.(Reuters: Go Nakamura)

NASA plans to announce the four "astronaut-like" people chosen to make up the crew that will be staying at CHAPEA for one year starting this winter.

Given the vast distance of Mars from Earth in comparison to the Moon, Suzanne Bell, NASA's lead at the Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory, said the mental health and social dynamics of the crew will be evaluated.

The habitat is being used as preparations for sending humans to the Red Planet.(Reuters: Go Nakamura)

"Besides the isolation, confinement and the sheer distance would be things like being able to get along," Ms Bell said.

"So, when you're in a small habitat with, you know, three other people that can wear on you over time."

The crew's mental health and social dynamics will also be evaluated, given the vast distance of Mars from Earth in comparison to the Moon.(Reuters: Go Nakamura)

Ms Douglas said the 3D-printed construction of the Mars habitat is a building process NASA plans to explore for space infrastructure.

"That is one of the technologies that NASA is looking at as a potential to build habitats on other planetary or lunar surfaces," Ms Douglas said.

The four "astronaut-like" people chosen to be on the crew with be staying for one year starting this winter.(Reuters: Go Nakamura)

Reuters