NASA researchers complete year-long Mars habitat mission

Four scientists have left a model Martian environment where they have been living INSULATION for more than a year.

The crew participated in the experiment for the American space agency NASA. Team members included Commander Kelly Haston, Medical Officer Nathan Jones, Flight Engineer Ross Brockwell and Science Officer Anca Selariu. They ended their stay after 378 days on July 6.

of simulated The Martian environment is called a habitat. NASA said the project “was designed to help scientists, engineers and mission planners better understand how life on another world might affect human health and performance.”

Officials said the habitat was also intended to recreate some of the environmental pressures future astronauts might face while living on places like the Moon and Mars.

The experiment took place inside a specially designed area at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The 160 square meter living quarters for the crew members was built using 3D printing technology.

The experiment involved the crew completing several research activities. These included participating in robotic operations, caring for the habitat, performing physical exercises and growing crops. Members also ran simulated “marswalks.”

Crew members are not NASA astronauts. They quit their normal jobs to participate in the experiment. After leaving the habitat, the group had to complete a series of “post-mission data collection activities” over the course of two weeks before returning home.

While inside the environment, NASA said the crew was subject to “realistic Martian time delays” when communicating with the outside world. This meant that there could be delays of up to 44 minutes round trip for communications data.

In addition, the members had to deal with a limited food system, similar to that used by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) or during future space deployments.

Commander Haston, a biologist, was the first to speak during a ceremony to mark the end of the mission. “Hello. It’s actually so wonderful to be able to say hello to you,” she said with a laugh.

Jones – who works as an emergency room doctor – was overcome with emotion after leaving the habitat. “I really hope I don’t cry standing here in front of everyone,” he said.

Brockwell, a structural engineer, said the experience showed him the importance of living in a sustainable manner to help humanity on Earth. “I am grateful for the opportunity to live the idea that it should USE resources no faster than they can be refilledand produce waste no faster than it can be processed back into resources,” he said.

Selariu, a microbiologist, explained that she had been asked by people many times why people like her would want to go to Mars. “Because it is possible,” she said. “Because space can unite and bring out the best in us.” She added, “For it is a defining step that earthlings will take to light the way in the centuries to come.”

NASA’s program is officially called the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA). The agency says the latest experiment was the first of three it plans to conduct. The target for the next one will be sometime in 2025.

Steve Koerner is the deputy director of the Johnson Space Center. He said much of the experiment focused on food and how it affected the crew’s performance. The job was “crucial science as we prepare to send humans to the red planet.”

Koerner added, “They’ve been separated from their families, carefully placed described meal plan and was subjected to many observations.” He noted that “Mars is our goal” and called the project an important step in America’s ongoing efforts to be a leader in the world’s future space exploration activities.

Under its Artemis program, NASA plans to send humans back to the Moon in order to learn how to live in space for long periods. After that, the goal is to send astronauts to Mars.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from NASA, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

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The words in this story

isolated – v. separate someone or something from other people or things

simulate – v. do or do something that acts or looks like something real but isn’t

stable – adj. something that can continue for a long period of time, especially in relation to the environment

USE – v. to use something effectively

MET – v. to fill something up or make it whole again

crucial – adj. extremely important or necessary

describe – v. to say formally what people should do