NASA requests to stay for one year on a place like Mars

Washington, Ta. Sunday 8 August 2021

The US space agency NASA has solicited applications from four people to stay for a year on a place like Mars. NASA wants to prepare astronauts for future missions before sending them to Mars.

NASA has solicited applications to spend 1 year on a place with conditions similar to Mars. These people will be in the Mars Dune Alpha, created by a 3D printer spread over 1,700 square feet. This is in the Johnson Space Center building in Houston.

NASA will study the challenges of the mission

In preparation for tackling the real-life challenges of future missions to Mars, NASA will study how a highly motivated person lives in a ground-based virtual situation for so long, NASA said in a statement.

Features will be like Mars missions

Built like Mars, this space mission will be just as challenging. There will also be resource limitations, equipment failures, communication delays and other environmental stresses. Apart from this, its occupants will be able to use simulated spacewalks, scientific research, virtual reality and robot control.

Help to understand the physical and mental challenges

NASA is planning three such missions. This is known as Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog. The first mission will run from September 1 to November 30 next year. Analog is important for understanding the complex needs of living on the surface of Mars and for solutions, said Grace Douglas, chief scientist at NASA's Space Center Advanced Food Technology Research at the Space Center in Houston.

These people can apply

"Living this way on Earth will help us understand and face the physical and mental challenges that astronauts face," he said. Only US citizens can apply and must be between 30-55 years of age. Apart from this the applicant should be proficient in English, have good physical health and not smoke.

Apart from this the educational qualification should be a master's degree in STEM field like engineering, mathematics or biological, physical or computer science from any recognized institute or with at least two years professional STEM experience or even consider a test pilot program.