Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

NASA to launch year long experiment to simulate life on Mars

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Apr 2023 09:33
3 Min Read

NASA intends to host volunteers in a Houston-based facility that will reproduce life on the red planet in preparation for future missions to Mars.

  • x
  • Part of the Mars Dune Alpha facility which aims to simulate exploration on Mars through gravity adjusted treadmills and VR technology, 17 March 2023. (@NASA_Johnson/Twitter)
    Part of the 'Mars Dune Alpha' facility which aims to simulate exploration on Mars through gravity-adjusted treadmills and VR technology, Houston, Texas, US, 17 March 2023. (@NASA_Johnson/Twitter)

NASA revealed on Tuesday its new Mars-simulation habitat, which will host volunteers and test their living experiences in a year-long experiment to simulate life on Mars.

The facility consists of four small rooms and a gym, which will be home to three experiments under the title: Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA). 

The experiments will take place at the US space agency’s research base in Houston, Texas. Four volunteers will take part in the first trial this summer. NASA will monitor the physical and mental health of the participants to better its understanding of the effects of human behavior during long periods of isolation.

According to Grace Douglas, a lead researcher on the CHAPEA experiments, NASA will have a better understanding of astronauts' decision-making and the value of each of the scarce resources provided to the team through the new study.

"We can really start to understand how we're supporting them with what we're providing them, and that's going to be really important information to making those critical resource decisions," Douglas said on a press tour of the facility.

Settling on Mars comes with “very strict mass limitations”, due to logistical and environmental factors which will drastically alter the astronauts living experiences.

The facility is comprised of a 160 square-meter home, which includes 2 bathrooms, a vertical farm to grow vegetables, a room for medical care, an area for relaxing, and several workstations.

The habitat was 3-D printed, Douglas said, "That is one of the technologies that NASA is looking at as a potential to build a habitat on other planetary or lunar surfaces.”

Related News

3D-printed rocket launches into space later today

Mars is calling. ☎️

To help us prepare for missions to the Red Planet, @NASA is working with partners to 3D-print Mars Dune Alpha, a simulated Mars habitat and future home to Mars mission simulation crews at @NASA_Johnson.

Learn more: https://t.co/sizJlzHPEG pic.twitter.com/2GkbwSdbH3

— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) October 19, 2021

Mission still in experimental stages

“Mars Dune Alpha” will be located inside an area that simulates the Martian environment, which is characterized by the heavy amount of red sand surrounding the habitat.

Equipment that astronauts would find resourceful is scattered all around the ground such as a weather station, a brick-making device, and a small greenhouse.

A treadmill that simulates the lesser gravity of the red planet has also been installed outside the facility.

It is meant to reproduce long trips that astronauts will be taking to collect samples, gather data or build infrastructure, according to Suzanne Bell, head of NASA’s Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory.

She jokingly added, "We really can't have them just walking around in circles for six hours." 

Although the members of the experiment team have not yet been named, the organization indicated that selection "will follow standard NASA criteria for astronaut candidate applicants," with a focus on backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math.

The study will also assess crew members' responses to situations of distress, as researchers will restrict water availability or sabotage equipment in the facility.

The Agency is still in the experimental stages of a possible mission to Earth’s neighboring planet. The agency has put most of its resources into Artemis missions which aim to put humans back on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

Read more: China will launch 12992 satellites into orbit to rival Space-X.

  • 3D-Printed
  • NASA
  • Virtual Reality
  • Space
  • Mars
  • astronauts

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS