Last week, NASA issued a calling to Americans looking to get away following four years of failure under Biden. Titling the release “Martians Wanted: NASA Opens Call for Simulated Yearlong Mars Mission,” NASA is leaning heavily into the idea of Martians being on Mars for this test run.
“NASA is seeking applicants to participate in its next simulated one-year Mars surface mission to help inform the agency’s plans for human exploration of the Red Planet. The second of three planned ground-based missions called CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) is scheduled to kick off in spring 2025. Each CHAPEA mission involves a four-person volunteer crew living and working inside a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The habitat, called the Mars Dune Alpha, simulates the challenges of a mission on Mars, including resource limitations, equipment failures, communication delays, and other environmental stressors.”
Those looking to complete the mission will undertake simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, maintaining their habitat, as well as growing their crops. Essentially, this is like volunteering to live in COVID lockdowns all over again.
Requirements for the mission are rather arduous. Being a US citizen or permanent resident who doesn’t smoke, is between 30 and 55 years old, and proficient in English will meet the basic mission requirements.
However, the standard space requirements NASA has, like a master’s in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field and two-plus years of STEM experience, disqualify many hopeful applicants. Two years of doctorate work in a STEM-related field or four years as a military officer and a bachelor’s in a STEM field will also suffice.
As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency is also looking to establish a foundation for long-term new scientific exploration of the moon, as well as making the eventual first human trip to Mars. This kind of mission here on Earth to simulate the experience is but the first step for man to get on Mars, and represents a giant leap for mankind in finding a new place to call home.
