The American space agency NASA is currently looking for volunteers to stay for a year in a space simulating conditions on the planet Mars, so as to prepare to send human beings to the red planet from 2030.
“Finalists will undergo medical evaluations, psychological testing, and a psychiatric examination to determine their suitability for a physically and mentally demanding, long-term isolation mission,” reads the NASA website.
Since February 16, the American space agency has opened applications for the second part of its CHAPEA mission, the acronym for crew health and performance exploration analog, which consists of monitoring the evolution of four individuals in conditions simulating those on the red planet for a year, according to the BBC.
The goal of this exercise is to test all the possibilities that await astronauts on the Red Planet by reproducing the many challenges, such as communication problems, to discover what humans will need to survive on the Red Planet.
During their year in the isolated building, the four individuals will have to participate in simulated spacewalks, grow crops for food, perform scientific experiments and undergo medical tests to monitor their condition in the simulated environment, according to the British media outlet. .
The first mission of its kind was launched on June 25 with, as commander, Canadian Kelly Haston, who is still in the building in Houston, Texas.
Between now and the launch of the mission which is to transport a small crew to Mars in 2030, NASA hopes to carry out at least two more CHAPEA missions to prepare as much as possible.
For the second mission, NASA is looking for individuals aged 30 to 55 who are American nationals or permanent residents, and who hold a master’s degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Applicants must also have at least two years of professional experience in the field or a minimum of 1000 hours flying a jet aircraft.
