Houston, Texas – After a yearlong journey that remained firmly grounded on Earth, a crew of NASA volunteers emerged from a simulated Mars environment. The four members had spent over 12 months inside the first Mars simulation set up by NASA at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Stepping out of the artificial alien-like atmosphere on a Saturday around 5 p.m., Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell, and Nathan Jones completed their mission.

The crew, comprising the maiden team of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog project, entered the 3D-printed habitat on June 25, 2023. Mission commander Haston greeted the outside world with a simple “Hello,” expressing joy at reconnecting after their extended isolation period.

Throughout their confinement, the quartet resided and operated within a vast 17,000 square feet space, simulating conditions for a Mars mission. They engaged in activities such as “Marswalks” to mimic spacewalks, cultivated vegetables for sustenance, and maintained equipment while facing challenges akin to those of a real Martian expedition.

The focus of the CHAPEA crew was on establishing future Mars operational conditions, investigating physical and behavioral health factors, and studying nutrition’s impact on performance. Additionally, they dealt with issues like limited resources, isolation, and communication delays of up to 22 minutes with Earth – essential preparations for an actual Mars venture.

Following this successful mission, NASA plans for two more CHAPEA missions to continue data collection and simulated spacewalks. Steve Koerner, deputy director of Johnson Space Center, emphasized the significance of investigating nutrition’s role in performance to pave the way for human travel to Mars.

As the crew exited the habitat, astronaut Kjell Lindgren greeted them, marking the end of their transformative experience. Reflecting on their lessons learned, flight engineer Brockwell emphasized the importance of sustainable living, highlighting the value of resource conservation for the benefit of all.

Expressing gratitude and optimism for the future, Science officer Anca Selariu shared her belief in the unifying power of space exploration and the potential for Mars to inspire remarkable achievements. The crew’s collective experience underscored the principles of sustainability and the necessity for responsible resource management on Earth and in space.