NASA Seeks Volunteers for 12-Month Simulated Mission to Moon and Mars

 Photo Credit: NASA

According to NASA, the agency is recruiting volunteers for a year-long mission designed to simulate the challenges of Moon and Mars exploration. The mission, known as the Moon and Mars Exploration Analog, is scheduled to commence no sooner than August 2027 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Mission Overview

NASA said the mission represents the first ground-based effort to integrate multiple aspects of deep-space missions, combining protocols from the agency’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) and the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) missions.

During the 12-month simulation, participants will live and work in an environment of isolation and confinement. The mission will involve:

• Interplanetary Transit: NASA said volunteers will mimic travel from Earth in a two-story, four-port habitat equipped with workspaces, living quarters, and a hygiene module.

• Planetary Surface Operations: Crew members will simulate living on another planet using a one-story, 3D-printed surface habitat.

• Simulated Spacewalks: The facility includes a sandbox area where crew members will conduct simulated walks on a planetary surface.

NASA stated that the primary objective of this study is to assess and validate hardware, technologies, and protocols essential for crew health and performance during long-duration deep space missions without the crew ever leaving Earth.

Qualification Criteria

NASA has established specific requirements for potential candidates. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen or a permanent resident (green card holder).

• Age and Height: Candidates should be between 30 and 55 years old, with a height not exceeding 74 inches (6 feet 2 inches).

• Language: Must be proficient in English.

• Academic/Professional Background: A bachelor’s degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics is required. NASA noted that advanced STEM degrees or military experience are preferred and can be substituted for professional experience.

• Health Requirements: Candidates must be able to pass NASA’s physical and psychological assessments, have no dietary restrictions, and possess no history of sleepwalking or using sleeping aids.

Mission Commitment

NASA stated that selected volunteers must be willing to commit to an approximately 14-month process. The commitment includes 12 months of confinement in the simulation habitats, followed by two months of pre- and post-mission training and data collection. NASA said research volunteers will receive compensation in accordance with the study's participation policies.

Source: FOX Weather - "NASA seeks research volunteers to spend a year on a simulated mission to Mars or the Moon" by Hayley Vawter (July 10, 2026)

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