NASA Invites Volunteers for Year-long Mars and Moon Simulation
WHO:
FOX Weather - NASA is seeking applicants for the Moon and Mars Exploration Analog mission.
CNN - NASA is looking to recruit four participants for its yearlong simulation program.
WHAT:
FOX Weather - The first habitat will be a two-story four-port habitat that simulates travel from Earth and includes a workspace, living area, sleeping quarters, and a hygiene module.
FOX Weather - The second habitat is a one-story, 3D-printed facility that includes private crew quarters, a communal workspace, recreation room, crop cultivation area, medical room, food preparation area, airlock, two bathrooms, and a sandbox for simulated walks on a planetary surface.
FOX Weather - The Moon and Mars Exploration Analog mission will involve participants living and working in isolation for one year.
CNN - Participants will replicate tasks such as growing crops, looking after their health, and performing simulated spacewalks.
FOX Weather - The mission is set to begin no sooner than August 2027.
CNN - The program will last for 14 months, including 12 months in confined habitats and two months of pre- and post-mission training.
CNN - The first habitat will be a mock 650-square-foot spacecraft, and the second will be a one-story, 900-square-foot facility.
WHERE:
FOX Weather - The mission will take place at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
CNN - The first habitat will simulate travel from Earth to the Moon or Mars, while the second will simulate living on another planet.
WHEN:
FOX Weather - The mission is set to begin no sooner than August 2027.
CNN - The program will last for 14 months.
WHY:
FOX Weather - The results of the experiment could inform plans for a sustained lunar presence through NASA’s Moon Base and future Artemis missions.
CNN - The research program aims to reduce risks astronauts may face during long-duration space exploration missions.
HOW:
FOX Weather - Participants must have no dietary restrictions and no history of sleepwalking or taking sleeping aids.
FOX Weather - Applicants must have "astronaut-like qualifications," such as a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics, with advanced degrees preferred.
FOX Weather - Participants will help NASA assess and validate hardware, technologies, protocols, and systems designed to support crew health and performance.
CNN - The project will study how crew members adjust to living on Mars time, which is about 40 minutes longer than a day on Earth.
FOX Weather - Participants must pass a NASA physical and psychological assessment and have strong technical skills.
(UPDATED July 10, 2026 00:19 UTC)
A new initiative has been announced to create two innovative habitats designed for simulated space travel, with the first being a two-story, four-port facility that features a workspace, living area, sleeping quarters, and hygiene module. The second habitat is a one-story, 3D-printed structure that includes private crew quarters, a communal workspace, a recreation room, a crop cultivation area, a medical room, a food preparation area, an airlock, two bathrooms, and even a sandbox for simulated planetary walks. To participate, applicants must have no dietary restrictions, no history of sleepwalking or using sleeping aids, and must possess "astronaut-like qualifications," including a bachelor’s degree in relevant fields, with advanced degrees preferred.
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(UPDATED July 9, 2026 23:23 UTC)
NASA is on the lookout for four participants to join its Moon and Mars Exploration Analog mission, which will take place at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. This yearlong simulation program will have participants living and working in isolation, replicating tasks like growing crops and performing simulated spacewalks, and is set to begin no sooner than August 2027. The mission aims to gather valuable data to inform future lunar and Mars exploration efforts, while participants will also need to pass a NASA physical and psychological assessment to qualify.