NASA is on the lookout for brave souls to participate in a groundbreaking mission aimed at preparing humanity for the challenges of exploring the Red Planet.
Volunteers will inhabit a 1,700-square-foot Mars habitat named Mars Dune Alpha, situated at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
The Mars Dune Alpha mimics the conditions of a future Mars habitat, featuring living quarters, workspaces, a medical station, lounge areas, and food-growing stations. Volunteers will face challenges akin to those on Mars, including limited resources, simulated spacewalks, habitat maintenance, crop cultivation, and interactions with robotics.
Scheduled to commence in Spring 2025, the mission invites motivated U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged between 30 and 55 to apply by April 2. Fluency in English, non-smoker status, and a strong interest in space exploration are prerequisites. Candidates should possess STEM backgrounds, including a master's degree or equivalent experience in engineering, math, biology, or related fields. Alternatively, 1,000 hours of piloting experience or military service, coupled with a bachelor's degree in STEM and four years of professional experience, are also eligible qualifications.
Volunteers may receive compensation for their participation. NASA aims to leverage insights from the CHAPEA missions to enhance understanding of health and performance in Mars explorations. Similar missions, such as Artemis, focus on lunar exploration with the goal of sending diverse astronauts to the moon.
Despite numerous robotic missions, human presence on Mars remains a distant dream. Aspiring astronauts can look forward to experiencing Martian sols, the planet's unique atmosphere, and extreme temperature variations. Join NASA in shaping the future of space exploration as we journey toward the stars.
Source: CBS
Photo: Getty