The CHAPEA crew stands in front of their simulated mission to Mars after its completion on July 6, 2024. From left: Kelly Haston, Nathan Jones, Anca Selariu, and Ross Brockwell. Credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel
Last June, a group of four people embarked on a more than yearlong mission to a place that looked a lot like Mars. They grew their own food, exercised, walked on a dusty surface and spent time alone. The group was part of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) experiment, which took them out of this world and into a unique annex outside NASA's Houston facility.
The CHAPEA mission, which recently completed its first simulation on July 6, was designed to isolate individuals in a Mars-like environment to determine the challenges of living in that environment.
Creating a space in space
In a 158-square-meter enclosure, participants had a courtyard filled with red sand and a backdrop reminiscent of the rusty dunes of Mars. Their living unit was created using a product called lavacrete, a concrete-like substance that was 3D printed on site, similar to how it would be done if humans were creating a habitat on another planet.
Of course, the simulated world lacks some of the more extreme elements that Mars has to offer, such as regular windstorms, intense radiation, climate fluctuations and frequent meteorites. However, Suzanne Bell, who leads CHAPEA at NASA, says the experiment was actually designed more to look at human health aspects related to traveling to Mars.
Inside the CHAPEA housing unit there is space for each person to have their own sleeping area, as well as a shared lounge, a food growing station, and medical and scientific facilities. And it was within this structure that the four strangers who embarked on the mission had to learn to work and live together.
Life on Mars
Kelly Haston, Ross Brockwell, Nathan Jones and Anca Selariu were those four unknowns. The volunteers took on the roles of commander, flight engineer, medical engineer and science officer, respectively, mimicking the essential roles in a real manned mission.
Each morning, the crew would begin their day in a similar way to the crew of the International Space Station (ISS), by talking to mission control. However, in this case there was a 22-minute delay each way, simulating the time it takes for radio signals to reach Earth from Mars and vice versa. The delay accentuated the isolation of the participants.
From there, the crew's day would include a combination of science experiments, food preparation, habitat maintenance and regimented exercise. They also participated in mock Mars walks, which included donning a full spacesuit, exiting an airlock and exploring the sandbox for specimens.
Before entering the simulation, Brockwell worked as a structural engineer and public works manager in Virginia. Within CHAPEA, he was the flight engineer. “I’ve always been interested in space exploration. Mars in particular has been really fascinating to me,” Brockwell told The Associated Press. Astronomy. “I found this mission to be a very interesting and fun way to make a contribution.”
One of Brockwell’s main tasks was to operate the on-site 3D printer to create things the team needed, he says. This included both necessary tools and boredom-busting ways, such as parts to assemble a mini-basketball hoop.
The crew also celebrated birthdays and holidays, and many of them took up new hobbies. Jones, who served as the team's medical officer, took up art, according to a NASA Interview“I’ve even surprised myself at how well some of my sketches have turned out,” he said.
Future Martians
Although NASA has not yet released any conclusions from the experiment, two more simulations are planned in 2025 and 2026 that, together with the recently completed mission, will create a more holistic data set.
And as the possibility of humans inhabiting Mars grows larger, Brockwell is ready to experience the Red Planet for real: “If they said tomorrow, it would be real. Do you agree? Absolutely. No doubt.”
