The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) offers yet another rare job opportunity to live in a Mars simulator for a year. Want to go?
Pictured: The first Chapea crew celebrates Thanksgiving in their habitat. From left to right: Nathan Jones, Kelly Harston, Anka Celariou, Ross Brockwell.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is looking for four personnel to live in a simulated Martian habitat for a year.
The institution wants healthy adults with a science degree or military or driving experience to apply.
NASA, which can't send anyone to Mars yet, is looking for four people and pretending it's sent them to Mars.
On Friday, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) issued a rare call for applications to stay in a simulated Martian habitat for a year. And, of course, it is willing to pay. The institution is looking for healthy adults with a science degree or military or driving experience.
Pictured: Three men in black wave at the door of a trailer-sized building, and a woman in blue clapps her hands. The current chapea crew enters the habitat of Houston.
Occupant Health and Performance Simulation Exploration (CHAPEA) is underway in a series of year-long events"Tasks"In these missions, volunteers can take on the role of astronauts in space, and NASA calls them simulated astronauts. They had to live in a 3D printed habitat in Houston, Texas.
Pictured: The living quarters within the Chapea habitat include a meeting area, a TV and kitchen utensils.
This 1700-square-foot space is called"Martian Dune Alpha"(Mars Dune Alpha), which mimics the habitat that NASA could one day build on Mars for astronauts.
Open the door to the two identical bedrooms, which are filled with a double bed, a wood-paneled wall, and a strip ceiling light.
The 1,700-square-foot Chapea habitat provides separate living quarters for four volunteer occupants.
The program's first four-man crew has been living in this structure since July last year. NASA's report on the progress of their work hints at what they do: growing vegetables and simulating them in a sandbox"Mars Walk", supervising scientific experiments similar to those on the International Space Station, and a rigorous exercise program.
Pictured: A man in a black spacesuit, helmet, and oxygen backpack on his back kneels in a room covered with red sand, looking at a tripod.
One of Chapea's astronauts participates in the simulation in a 1,200-square-foot sandbox"Mars Walk"to mimic the Martian landscape.
Now, NASA is looking for applicants for the second Chapea mission, which will begin in the spring of 2025.
NASA's requirements for simulated Martian astronauts.
An artist.
An artist's illustration shows an astronaut leaving behind a picture from Mars.
NASA says it's looking"A healthy, active U.S. citizen or permanent resident", between the ages of 30 and 55, proficient in English, non-smoker.
Like space astronauts, NASA also wants simulated astronauts to have a master's degree in a STEM field and two years of work experience in that field, or 1,000 hours of jet piloting experience.
Mark Kelly, NASA Astronaut Jet Pilot, NASA JSC2010E119542 ORIG
Astronaut Mark Kelly prepares to fly aboard NASA's T-38 trainer aircraft. d**iddehoyos/nasa
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) wrote in a statement:"Applicants should have a strong desire for unique, rewarding adventures and an interest in contributing to NASA's work in preparing for humanity's first trip to Mars.
Pictured: Martian humans explore the habited area of astronauts on Mars.
Applicants must also pass a criminal background check, psychiatric screening, and medical evaluation to be eligible. After all, they will spend a year of isolation in close proximity with three other people, and will be subject to a strict schedule.
Pictured: The airlock door inside Dune Alpha on Mars.
The application form further hints at the nature of the job, raising questions such as:"Would you rather consume processed, long-shelf-life spaceflight food over the course of a year and have no opinion on the menu? "and"Are you willing to have no or very limited contact with family and friends for an extended period of time (up to two weeks)?
Pictured: Three staff members at Chapea sit around a table with snacks and a Happy Birthday banner underneath, one of them opening a package.
Monthly blood, urine, stool, and saliva tests, restrictions on social use**, and a 20-minute delay in communication with anyone outside the habitat are also described in the report.
NASA said food allergies, dietary restrictions and gastrointestinal disorders were not eligible because Chapea was unable to meet those requirements. Certain medications, such as blood thinners and sleeping pills, are also not eligible.
A NASA spokesperson told Business Insider via email about the compensation of Chapea participants"Consistent with the remuneration of personnel involved in other simulation tasks", but did not provide further details.
Applications close April 2 at 6 p.m. ET.
Morgan McFaul Johnson Business Insider February 17, 2024