NASA selects crew for 45-day simulated Mars mission in Houston

The selected crew members-Obaid Alsuwaidi, Kristen Magas, Tiffany Snyder, and Anderson Wilder-are set to enter the 650-square-foot HERA habitat on Friday, Nov. 1, where they will simulate living and working as astronauts. The crew will remain in the habitat until Monday, Dec. 16, when they will simulate returning to Earth. Jordan Hundley and Robert Wilson have been designated as alternates.

NASA's HERA studies are designed to explore how astronauts adapt to the conditions of isolation, confinement, and remote environments. These investigations are critical as the agency prepares for long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The data collected offers insights into the effects of such environments on human health and performance.

During the simulated mission, the crew will perform scientific experiments and operational tasks, including shrimp cultivation, vegetable gardening, and using virtual reality to simulate walking on the Martian surface. As they "approach" Mars, they will experience communication delays of up to five minutes, helping researchers understand how such delays may affect future space missions. In actual deep space missions, communication delays could extend to as much as 20 minutes one way.

In line with previous HERA missions, the crew will take part in 18 human health studies managed by NASA's Human Research Program. These studies aim to deepen the understanding of the physiological, behavioral, and psychological challenges faced by astronauts, ultimately assisting scientists in developing strategies to address these issues on deep space missions.