As NASA wraps up a year-long Mars mission experiment, four volunteers who have been residing in a mock Mars habitat since June of last year are scheduled to depart.

NASA’s Study of Crew Health and Performance The purpose of the analog experiment was to investigate ways to maintain the health and productivity of astronaut teams for extended trips to Mars. The 1,700 square foot, 3D-printed housing served as a surrogate for the kind of environment that a crew would encounter on a voyage to Mars.

Nathan Jones, Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, and Ross Brockwell entered the environment on June 25, 2023, and have remained inside ever since.

They have brought a little bit of Earth’s greenery with them by conducting science experiments, acting out simulated Marswalks, and even farming some of their own food.

Leading the experiment’s farming team is NASA’s Gioia Massa. “Salad crop production may supplement the packaged meals, reduce menu fatigue, and provide a creative outlet for the crew to add a variety of fresh produce to their diet.” “Growing plants may also provide psychological benefits for astronauts living in isolated, confined environments away from Earth, and we hope to capture data on both of these aspects.”

Along with their research and tests, the crew had to deal with isolation, faked equipment failures, and purposefully delayed connections with Earth’s civilization. These were just a few of the realities of life on Mars. practical-time communication is not feasible during a practical expedition because radio transmissions between Earth and Mars can take longer than 20 minutes to travel one direction.

On Saturday, July 6, the crew is scheduled to return to the outside world. The event will be streamed by NASA.

Two further year-long studies in the habitat are scheduled by NASA. The next mission is scheduled to start in 2025 spring.