NASA simulates life on Mars.

Upon embarking on the mission, individuals will participate in simulation activities and scientific work, eat like astronauts, handle maintenance and equipment malfunctions, and undergo rigorous psychological and physiological testing.

The simulation process will begin in June. Two further trials will be conducted with different groups of people under the same conditions. The final simulation will begin in 2026.

This area is used for spacecraft simulators. (Photo: Bill Stafford/NASA)

Scott M. Smith, a researcher at CHAPEA, said NASA has developed a highly accurate mission scenario on the surface of Mars. Participants will experience a 22-minute delay in communication in space, similar to astronauts on Mars. Space-based Martian sounds will be broadcast through speakers around the base, ensuring participants cannot hear outside noise.

The base's layout includes a work area, living area and kitchen, private bedrooms, bathrooms, a medical area, a communications center, a gym, ventilation shafts, and an "outdoor" area simulating the Martian surface.

Chapea's kitchen and living quarters for the crew. The four participants will spend 378 days inside the 157.94-square-meter base. (Photo: Bill Stafford/NASA)

For over 12 months, this nearly 160 square meter space will be the living and research area for all the CHAPEA project crews, engineers, and scientists.

Currently, there are four “serious risks” in Mars missions, Smith shared: “radiation, SANS (Spaceflight-related eye syndrome, swelling of the eyeballs affecting most astronauts during prolonged periods in microgravity), crew behavior and performance, and food and nutrition.”

A billboard at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, during the construction of the Chapea base in 2021. (Photo: ICON)

Although the simulator won't be able to test the effects of radiation and the reduction in gravity (on Mars it's about 38% of Earth's), CHAPEA's primary goal in the experiment is to assess human health and performance. A large part of that is testing the effects of a Martian diet over an extended period.

The estimated travel time to Mars is 6-9 months. A manned spacecraft will transport food to Mars before humans, meaning it will need to have a long shelf life. Smith explained, "The food transported will have a shelf life of about 5 years. Filling the pantry with enough food to sustain life for the next 5 years is a challenge."

Inside the simulated space, the crew will eat rations similar to those on the ISS, although without the opportunity to choose the percentages of their meals, unlike current astronauts. Smith added that participants will also grow vegetables using a hydroponic system – both for psychological and nutritional benefits.

Laboratory equipment inside the CHAPEA habitat. The crew will conduct simulated scientific work and perform various tests.

The crew will undergo blood, urine, saliva, and stool tests, their behavior will be monitored, and their physical performance will be measured. Their body mass and composition, nutritional status, immune system function, cognition, and microbiome will all be assessed. “Essentially, we’re looking at all the physiological factors,” Smith said.

He added: "Volunteers need to have a certain level of dedication to be willing to spend a year participating in the experiment. Not everyone is suitable for this task."

Source: https://vtc.vn/mo-phong-cuoc-song-tren-sao-hoa-tai-nasa-ar783160.html