Houston, Texas – NASA is currently accepting applications for its upcoming year-long CHAPEA mission, designed to replicate the challenges that crews may encounter on future missions to Mars.
The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission involves four volunteer crew members living and working inside a confined 3D-printed habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The mission aims to gather valuable scientific data to validate systems and develop solutions for future missions to the Red Planet.
The current CHAPEA crew is already more than halfway through their year-long mission, which began in June 2023 and is set to conclude in July 2024. NASA is now looking for applicants for its CHAPEA 2 mission, scheduled to launch in spring 2025. The application process is open to healthy, motivated U.S. citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 30-55, proficient in English, and non-smokers.
During the year-long mission, crew members will engage in various tasks such as robotic operations, habitat maintenance, crop growth, simulated spacewalks, and exercise. The Mars Dune Alpha habitat aims to mirror the conditions of future Mars missions, including resource limitations, equipment failures, communication delays, and other environmental challenges.
Applicants must possess a degree in a STEM field or medicine, along with professional experience in STEM, military training, or test piloting. The CHAPEA missions inside the Mars Dune Alpha habitat will provide valuable research to NASA in supporting crew health and performance during future long-duration space exploration missions.
The habitat layout includes crew quarters, a lavatory and shower area, a produce production section, a kitchen, a recreation area, fitness and laundry machinery, robotics control stations, a 3D printer, a medical bay, and the primary airlock. The simulation will provide insights into the physical and mental challenges that astronauts may face during extended missions to Mars.
Overall, the CHAPEA missions serve as critical preparations for future human journeys to Mars, aiming to ensure the safety and effectiveness of crew members during prolonged space exploration missions. NASA continues to seek qualified candidates to participate in these groundbreaking endeavors.