CHAPEA

CHAPEA, series of analog missions conducted by NASA that are intended to simulate human habitation on the surface of Mars. The missions, the first of which began on June 25, 2023, are meant to simulate yearlong stays on the red planet in preparation for future missions there. Subsequent missions are planned for 2025 and 2026.

Purpose

Like other analog missions, CHAPEA missions are conducted on Earth, which allows NASA personnel to gather important information for future missions before crew and equipment are subjected to the extreme conditions of space. Testing on Earth is less expensive and allows for a greater range of both testers and solutions, as funding, equipment, and personnel are limited once a mission leaves the planet. New technology, robotics, habitats, vehicles, and more can be tested on Earth for safety, and issues can be addressed before they happen in space.

A main goal of CHAPEA is to collect data about the physical and behavioral health effects of crews living in isolation. Crews of four live and conduct simulated activities in a habitat called Mars Dune Alpha at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Isolation has been known to cause sleep difficulties, fatigue, depression, and cognitive decline, among other issues. Data is gathered from CHAPEA’s crew about the effects of confinement and living together in close quarters, as well as about comfort factors, such as how tired they become of the foods available in the habitat during their stay. They live as crews would on Mars—cooking, taking care of personal hygiene, conducting experiments, growing crops, exercising, and undertaking maintenance work.

In addition to providing information about the physical and behavioral effects of living in such an environment, crews conduct simulated space walks that aim to replicate what exploring the Martian surface might be like. They are also subjected to simulated stressors, such as communication delays, equipment failures, and resource limitations, to see how these problems might be solved.

Mars Dune Alpha

The Mars Dune Alpha habitat is a 3D printed structure with an area of about 158 square meters (1,700 square feet), which includes individual sleeping quarters for the four crew members, a kitchen, workstations, a medical station, a food-growing station, and areas for exercise and recreation. Areas for work and recreation were deliberately kept separate to allow for the crew members to feel physically distanced from their “office” during personal time. The structure was built using 3D printing, because that process would use local materials and thus negate the need for costly shipments of building materials to Mars. The walls are printed from LavaCrete, an incredibly strong and durable type of concrete developed specially for 3D printing structures. The habitat is inside a domed facility that includes a mock Martian landscape, complete with images of craggy mountains and a 111-square-meter (1,200-square-foot) box of red sand in which to complete simulated space walks. The habitat itself also includes a screen that projects outdoor conditions relative to the time of day, including sunrises in the morning and stars at night.

Missions

Applications for CHAPEA missions are open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who meet the strict mission criteria. Applicants are required to have an advanced degree in a STEM field and are subjected to a battery of physical tests similar to those for astronaut candidates. The first mission’s crew consisted of commander Kelly Haston, responsible for overseeing the mission generally and managing communications; flight engineer Ross Brockwell, who monitored habitat systems; medical officer Nathan Jones, who organized collection of biological specimens and treated any medical emergencies; and science officer Anca Selariu, responsible for coordinating science activities, including operating drones and rovers, analyzing specimens, and growing crops. Their one-year mission began on June 25, 2023, and ended on July 6, 2024. During their time in Mars Dune Alpha, the crew grew tomatoes, peppers, and greens; conducted simulated “Mars walks”; and celebrated birthdays and holidays together.