NASA Begins Year-Long Mars Habitat Simulation in Houston

NASA is set to begin its second year-long Mars simulation mission inside the Mars Dune Alpha habitat at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, starting October 19, 2025. The crew of four volunteers—Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, Matthew Montgomery, and James Spicer—will live and work in isolation for 378 days to simulate conditions on Mars, including limited resources, communication delays, and equipment malfunctions. Part of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) program, the mission aims to collect cognitive, physical, and psychological data to better understand the challenges of long-duration space travel and Mars habitation. The crew will engage in activities such as simulated Mars walks, robotic operations, and growing vegetables in controlled environments to test sustainability and new technologies like water dispensers and medical diagnostic devices. These simulations are crucial in helping NASA prepare for future crewed missions to Mars, expected in the 2030s, by addressing how isolation and resource scarcity impact astronauts' health and performance. Insights from this mission will also support NASA's Artemis Moon program by informing strategies for deep-space exploration.