NASA Seeks Four Volunteers for Groundbreaking Year-Long Simulated Moon and Mars Mission at Johnson Space Center

In a significant step toward preparing humans for sustained exploration of the Moon and eventual missions to Mars, NASA has issued a call for four research volunteers to participate in the agency's first integrated Moon and Mars Exploration Analog (MMEA) mission. The year-long simulation is scheduled to begin no earlier than August 2027 at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, a facility that has been the site of numerous groundbreaking space research endeavors, including the development of the Space Shuttle program. The MMEA mission is a critical component of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface by 2025 and establish a sustainable presence on the Moon. The mission will provide valuable insights into the physiological, psychological, and operational challenges of deep-space travel, which will inform the development of future Mars missions. The simulation will take place in a state-of-the-art facility that mimics the conditions of space travel, including the effects of microgravity, isolation, and communication delays. The MMEA mission will integrate elements from two established NASA analog programs: HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog) and CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog). This integration allows researchers to study the full spectrum of a deep-space mission—transit and surface operations—in one streamlined campaign. The mission will involve a crew of four individuals who will live and work together in a simulated environment for an extended period, facing realistic challenges such as limited resources, communication delays, and isolation.

### Key Facts The MMEA mission will take place in a two-story, four-port habitat (approximately 650 square feet) that simulates the long journey to another planet. The habitat will include a workspace, living area, sleeping quarters, and hygiene module. The mission will also involve a one-story, 3D-printed habitat (about 1,700 square feet) that replicates planetary surface living. This habitat will feature private quarters, communal areas, a crop cultivation zone, medical room, food prep area, airlock, bathrooms, and a sandbox for simulated extravehicular activities (EVAs or "spacewalks"). The MMEA mission will involve a range of activities, including: * Growing their own food * Performing simulated spacewalks * Operating rovers * Monitoring their own health * Living on Mars time (roughly 40 minutes longer than an Earth day) The mission will provide valuable insights into the challenges of deep-space travel and will inform the development of future Mars missions. NASA's Human Research Program has been at the forefront of space research, conducting extensive studies on the effects of space travel on the human body. The program has been instrumental in developing countermeasures to mitigate the effects of microgravity, isolation, and radiation exposure. ### What the Mission Entails The MMEA mission combines elements from two established NASA analog programs: HERA and CHAPEA. This integration allows researchers to study the full spectrum of a deep-space mission—transit and surface operations—in one streamlined campaign. The mission will involve a crew of four individuals who will live and work together in a simulated environment for an extended period, facing realistic challenges such as limited resources, communication delays, and isolation. ### Background on Predecessor Programs CHAPEA has been a critical component of NASA's analog program, focusing on Mars surface simulation. The first mission (2023–2024) lasted 378 days in the 3D-printed Mars Dune Alpha habitat. Crew grew crops, conducted "Marswalks," dealt with isolation, and provided extensive health data. Mission 2 began in late 2025 with crew members Ross Elder, Emily Johnson, and others. ### Frequently Asked Questions ### Conclusion The MMEA mission is a groundbreaking endeavor that will provide valuable insights into the challenges of deep-space travel. The mission will inform the development of future Mars missions and will be a critical component of NASA's Artemis program. The agency is seeking four research volunteers to participate in the mission, which is scheduled to begin no earlier than August 2027 at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

For more on this, see analogstudies.jsc.nasa.gov.

For more on this, see nasa.gov.

For more on this, see nasa.gov.

For more on this, see nasa.gov.

For more on this, see nasa.gov.