When will the four humans begin living on Mars?
Imagine four people living on a planet. There is no other life form over there. What will they do all day? How will they survive? How will they get by? We might find out soon, as four humans will begin living on Mars. But wait, there’s a twist to it.
Four people will live in a simulated Martian environment (they’re not going to Mars yet!). This will help engineers and scientists in their efforts to make Mars habitable for mankind.
The crew will begin their mission in June 2023 for one year. Scientists are curious about how the crew performs in such an environment.
What will the team do in the simulated environment?
Throughout the simulation, the crew members will perform tasks such as spacewalks, maintenance, exercise, and crop growing. The team will face environmental difficulties similar to those on Mars.
These difficulties include a lack of resources, isolation, and equipment failure. The four-person team will also be responsible for communication, meal preparation, maintenance work, science work, and sleep. They will also control robots remotely, as it will be required during real-life missions on Mars.
The crew will use a drone and a robot, both of which are commonly used for exploration. All team activities will be recorded and studied in order to better prepare humans for their arrival on Mars.
What will the simulated habitat look like?
The crew will have their own living area, a kitchen, and specialised areas for medical, entertainment, fitness, work, and crop-growing activities. There will be two bathrooms and a workplace.
The mission is the first of three planned for NASA's Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) habitat.
When will the other two missions take place?
NASA has planned these missions to improve its understanding of living on Mars. The first mission will be followed by a second one in 2025 and a third one in 2026.
The findings of the CHAPEA missions can affect future NASA missions, including those to the surface of Mars. But there is still a long way to go before humans can live on Mars permanently.
