Crew completes simulated Mars Mission at JSC

Crew completes simulated Mars Mission at JSC

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Sep 26, 2024

A volunteer crew recently “returned” from a simulated 45-day mission to Mars at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. The crew completed their stay in a small habitat, contributing to research essential for future human space missions to the Moon and Mars.

The HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog) missions are part of NASA’s effort to study how humans cope with the unique challenges of deep space exploration, including isolation, confinement, and the demanding work conditions they may face. This research is key to preparing astronauts for extended missions in space.

Campaign 7 Mission 3 began with HERA operations lead Ted Babic ceremonially ringing the bell outside the habitat. He struck it ten times – seven times for the campaign and three times for the mission – as a symbolic send-off.

During the ingress, NASA structural engineer Anderson said, “We’re going to take good care of this ship of yours on our journey,” addressing the mission control team.

Life During the Simulation

While inside the habitat, the crew worked on 18 human health and performance studies. Seven of these studies were led by international scientists in collaboration with organizations like the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre and the European Space Agency.

The crew performed a wide range of activities, from tending to a hydroponic garden to growing shrimp and deploying a cube satellite to simulate data gathering. They also engaged in virtual reality Mars surface explorations and practiced flying drones over simulated Martian terrain. NASA scientists observed how these tasks, combined with isolation, affected the crew’s behavior and performance.

As the mission progressed, the team experienced increasing communication delays with mission control, eventually reaching five-minute lags, simulating the conditions astronauts would face on Mars. Scientists are keen to see how this crew managed autonomous workflows under these challenging conditions.

Each crew member brought personal items for the mission. Anderson packed extra socks and her favorite book, ‘The Never Ending Story’, while McCandless brought Legos, her favorite card game, and a vintage iPod. Kent left daily letters for his daughters, and Iakymov brought postcards and photos of family and friends.

Returning to Earth

Before concluding the mission, McCandless and Anderson engaged in a live Groundlink session with middle school students in Florida and Kansas, answering questions about life inside the habitat, the challenges of isolation, and their experiences. The students were curious about the crew’s favorite foods and daily routines. McCandless shared her love for cheddar crisps and freeze-dried Pad Thai, while Anderson proudly displayed her collection of comics and fantasy books.

On Sept. 23, 2024, the crew exited the habitat, marking the end of their mission. Reflecting on their experience, Kent commented, “Following our safe passage to Mars, and our safe return to Earth, as the crew of Campaign 7, Mission 3, we hereby officially transfer this exploration vessel to the flight analogs operations team. We hope this vessel continues to serve as a safe home for future HERA crews.”

Want to Join HERA?

NASA is currently seeking volunteers between the ages of 30 and 55 for future HERA missions. Participants must be healthy non-smokers and will undergo physical and psychological evaluations. Successful candidates will be compensated for their involvement.

For more information on how to participate, visit here