
[ad_1]
A NASA astronaut knocked on the door three times and shouted happily, “Are you ready to come out?” On the other side of the door were four scientists who had spent 378 days on “Mars.”
Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell, Nathan Jones and their leader Kelly Haston have spent more than a year in Houston, Texas, in a closed environment that is supposed to resemble conditions on Mars as part of a NASA mission to help prepare humans for a trip to the Red Planet.
The team grew vegetables, conducted “Mars walks,” and endured what NASA called “extra stresses,” such as delays in communications with “Earth.”
No doubt many people would be horrified by the idea, but the team “landed” back to earth with a smile.
“Hello, it’s nice to say hello,” said biologist Haston.
“I really hope I’m not going to cry when I stand in front of all of you,” said Jones, a critical care doctor. Moments later, he began to cry when he saw his wife among the crowd that greeted them.
Astronaut Kjell Lindgren is interviewed by reporters after the team came out. In the background is the team: Kelly Haston, Ross Brockwell, Nathan Jones and Anca Selariu.
AFP
Bedroom and gym
The habitat the team lives in is named Mars Dune Alpha.
It is a 160 square meter 3D printing facility with bedrooms, a gym, common areas and a vertical garden for growing food.
There was also an outdoor area with red sand where the team did what they called a “March Walk.”
NASA Associate Administrator Steve Koerner said he is grateful to the team for participating in this important research.
It’s one of three NASA projects, called CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog), that study crew health and performance in simulated exercises.
NASA’s Artemis program envisions sending humans to the Moon in preparation for future plans to send humans to Mars.
Travel to the Red Planet is expected to be on track by the 2040s.
[ad_2]
Source link








