NASA seeking participants in year-long simulated space mission

Key Points:

• NASA is recruiting participants for a year-long Moon and Mars Exploration Analog mission starting no earlier than August 2027 at Johnson Space Center, where volunteers will live in isolation to simulate interplanetary travel and surface operations.
• The mission combines elements of NASA’s HERA and CHAPEA programs, using two habitats to mimic deep-space transit and planetary surface living, including simulated spacewalks and resource-limited conditions.
• The study aims to evaluate astronaut adaptation, validate hardware and protocols, and inform future sustained lunar missions such as Artemis and Moon Base initiatives.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens or green card holders aged 30-55, meet physical and psychological criteria, possess strong technical skills, and hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field or equivalent experience; the mission lasts about 14 months including training.
• Participants will be reimbursed for their involvement in this critical research to support long-duration deep space exploration without leaving Earth.