4 volunteers to live in ‘Mars’ for 378 days as part of NASA’s experiment

The volunteers will conduct scientific research, grow vegetables, perform simulated Mars walks, and test technologies like diagnostic medical equipment and water dispensers designed for deep space missions. (File photo)

NASA is set to launch its second year-long Mars surface simulation this October, placing four research volunteers inside a 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed habitat at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, US. The mission, part of NASA’s CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) program, will run for 378 days — from October 19, 2025, to October 31, 2026 — and aims to generate critical data for future human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Inside the Mars Dune Alpha habitat, the crew will face simulated challenges including resource limitations, equipment failures, communication delays, and isolation. They will conduct scientific research, grow vegetables, perform simulated Mars walks, and test technologies like diagnostic medical equipment and water dispensers designed for deep space missions.

“The simulation will allow us to collect cognitive and physical performance data to give us more insight into the potential impacts of the resource restrictions and long-duration missions to Mars on crew health and performance,” said Grace Douglas, CHAPEA principal investigator.

Meet the crew: pilot, engineer, scientist, and space force officer

The primary crew includes Ross Elder (commander), Ellen Ellis (medical officer), Matthew Montgomery (science officer), and James Spicer (flight engineer). Elder is a US Air Force test pilot with over 1,800 flying hours. Ellis, a colonel in the US Space Force, has extensive experience in satellite engineering and disaster management. Montgomery is a hardware engineer and robotics consultant, while Spicer is a technical director in aerospace with expertise in satellite communications and spacecraft design.

Preparing for Artemis and beyond

“As NASA gears up for crewed Artemis missions, CHAPEA and other ground analogs are helping to determine which capabilities could best support future crews,” said Sara Whiting, project scientist with NASA’s Human Research Program.

The first CHAPEA mission concluded in July 2024. NASA’s Human Research Program continues to study the effects of spaceflight on human health through simulations, lab research, and experiments aboard the International Space Station.