NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-07 20:30:07

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technolo … d=msedgntp

NASA asking for volunteers to live on ‘Mars’ for a year
Brandon Sapienza 4 hrs ago
15 Comments
If you loved the Matt Damon film “The Martian,” you’re going to love this opportunity from NASA.
As NASA prepares to take astronauts to Mars in the coming years, the agency is searching for applicants for their program that will send four people to live for a year at the Mars Dune Alpha habitat at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Selected volunteers will be paid but have limited contact with family and friends back home. They’ll also have to eschew earthly comforts such as plentiful food and other resources while simulating life on Mars.

The selected group also will have to complete missions including ones that deal with equipment failures.
The first experiment is expected to take place in the fall of 2022.
“We want to understand how humans perform in them,” said lead scientist Grace Douglas. “We are looking at Mars realistic situations.”
NASA opened the application process Friday and is looking for candidates between the ages of 30 and 55 with a Master’s degree in a STEM field. Other requirements include U.S. citizenship, good physical health and the ability to deal with motion sickness.

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SpaceNut · 2021-08-08 08:12:24

Why are they creating a new simulation when Nasa has been doing so for quite some time at the analog stations on Devon Island and have had members join in at the others stations as part of the crews exercises.

Here is a tease in that

Selected volunteers will be paid

but there is no mention of the pay level which would be part of getting people to want to do this....

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-08 08:45:32

For SpaceNut re #2

Thanks for giving this new topic a strong running start! Your question deserves investment of time on a forum member's part to research the decision making process.

I hope whatever the member finds and posts will be persuasive, but at the moment we have no idea what (if anything) was learned from previous exercises, and how the test protocol has been adjusted to make the new study more productive.

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tahanson43206 · 2021-08-08 12:19:30

Here's another view of the news ...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-wants-p … 25164.html

The paid volunteers will take part in a simulated Martian exploration mission, complete with "spacewalks." They will only have limited contact with their families and friends back home, and will have to learn to cope with restricted resources and equipment failures.
The news comes as the space agency prepares to eventually transport astronauts to the Red Planet as part of NASA's Artemis program. That mission aims to set up a station on the moon and eventually send humans to Mars.
Lead scientist Grace Douglas said in a press release: "The analog is critical for testing solutions to meet the complex needs of living on the Martian surface."
She added: "Simulations on Earth will help us understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they go."
Applicants will need to hold a master's degree in engineering, maths, or computer science and have at least two years of pilot experience.

The article does not explain why prior simulations were not considered sufficient.

I would appreciate someone with posting privileges investigating and reporting back. I expect there were good and sufficient reasons for NASA to spend taxpayer money on this venture. It is possible the glaring deficiencies of previous tests would be embarrassing to reveal, so the best course of action may be to say nothing.

On the ** other ** hand, ** this ** simulation had better be sufficient!

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tahanson43206 · 2021-08-11 12:14:48

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/m/c7374956-0 … 0%99s.html

In an earlier post, SpaceNut asked why NASA would be investing taxpayer funds in "another" Mars Simulation.

The anwsers may be starting to come in ...

Here is a hint ...

Anne Quito
Wed, August 11, 2021 1:31 PM
Mars Dune Alpha is touted to be "the highest-fidelity simulated habitat ever constructed" for living in the red planet.

If someone can follow up I'd appreciate it... the "continue reading" button was unresponsive for me just now.

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Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-08-11 12:15:24)

SpaceNut · 2021-08-11 21:23:00

Conceived by the architecture firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, the model is 1,700 sq ft of habitat designed to allay the mental and physical challenges astronauts may encounter during extended trips to Mars. The ultimate goal, says a spokesperson for BIG’s design team, is to create “a supportive, healthy environment that doesn’t need to sacrifice aesthetics.”

The architects say insights from similar long-duration research spaces—such as the International Space Station, submarines, and Antarctic research stations—informed their thinking.
Mars Dune Alpha is equipped with an indoor aquaponic vegetable nursery, a gym, a treatment room, and various areas for lounging and working.
Mars Dune Alpha’s structure is built using a 3D-printing technology developed by ICON, a Texas-based tech company that specializes in software-aided construction. NASA is banking that the additive manufacturing technique will be a viable construction method for building structures in outer space.

Not a realistic building as mars will not have a smooth prepared concrete floor to build on let alone the rail system for the 3D printing unit.

Additive materials means we are bringing more to finish off what is at first appearance an Insitu building but its not if we are not processing the regolith to make the raw 3D printers source materials.

The image all show a high tech rich appearance to what is being built...

tahanson43206 · 2021-08-11 21:59:00

For SpaceNut re #6

Thank you for doing the research to add substance to the teaser I found!

A flat floor is achievable with robotic equipment. it does not require a human supervisor.

The regolith of Mars is rich with potential ingredients for a 3D printer mixture. There are numerous discussions is this forum of suitable materials. The problem for any (average) person is to try to remember everything that is stacked up in the archive, let alone having read it.

What I ** really ** appreciate your finding is confirmation that the present investigators studied prior art before making their presentation to NASA decision makers.

Since this is an official NASA study, I expect the documentation will be thorough and voluminous, and that if at the end of the exercise it is concluded the physical and psychological arrangements are practical, then we will likely see them replicated in the real expedition.

Thanks again for your follow up for this topic!

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2021-08-11 21:59:52)

SpaceNut · 2021-08-12 19:58:25

A floor for mars already dry means that the layer for the structure will poorly adhere to the floor. So the floor and the structure needs to still be damp for a drying bond at the connection area to become strong since the structure will be under pressure and would cause that seam to tend to leak as pressure rises internally.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-09-13 07:55:37

Texan construction firm ICON has been subcontracted to 3D print a habitat that accurately recreates the conditions future astronauts will experience when they visit the surface of Mars.
https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/ico … ns-194058/
Codenamed ‘Mars Dune Alpha,’ the 1,700 sq. ft structure is set to be built using ICON’s Vulcan 3D printer, and deployed in long-term mission simulations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Through the three-year field test, NASA aims to assess the efficacy of its nutrition system, as well as the physical and behavioral impact of prolonged exposure to conditions on the red planet.

500 Million Years old Walk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYpnULjWAuM

CHAPEA is a series of analog missions that will simulate year-long stays on the surface of Mars. Each mission will consist of four crew members living in Mars Dune Alpha, an isolated 1,700 square foot habitat. During the mission, the crew will conduct simulated spacewalks and provide data on a variety of factors, which may include physical and behavioral health and performance.
https://www.nasa.gov/chapea/about

The 3D printed habitat will include private crew quarters, a kitchen, and dedicated areas for medical, recreation, fitness, work, and crop growth activities, as well as a technical work area and two bathrooms.
'Analog mission 1 – Starting fall of 2022'

Mars_B4_Moon · 2023-06-24 17:17:24

Four volunteers set to enter NASA's simulated Mars habitat on 378-day mission

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sc … ay-mission

"In a significant step towards preparing for crewed missions to Mars, four volunteers are set to enter a 3D-printed, 1,700-square-foot simulated Mars habitat at NASA's Johnson Space Center. This mission, beginning on June 25, 2023, will span a remarkable 378 days.

This will be the first of three planned simulation missions in NASA's CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) habitat designed to replicate the conditions astronauts would face on the Red Planet.

During the mission, the crew members will be engaged in a diverse range of mission activities including simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, personal hygiene routines, exercise routines, and even crop growth. To be as Mars-realistic as feasible, the quartet will also face various environmental stressors such as limited resources, isolation, and equipment failures."

tahanson43206 · 2023-06-24 17:40:20

For Mars_B4_Moon re #10

Thanks for this update on the 378 day mission!

I wonder if the participants will be able to exchange email with the public? That would seem to me to be expected on a real mission, with the caveat that any such communication would be moderated by Mission Control due to limited bandwidth, and priority of health and mission data flows.

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Mars_B4_Moon · 2023-07-05 04:06:35

Universetoday news item

NASA Locks Four Volunteers Into a One-Year Mission in a Simulated Mars Habitat
https://www.universetoday.com/162265/na … s-habitat/

tahanson43206 · 2023-07-28 17:30:36

It's time for an update on the One-Year experiment:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/life-mars-co … 37953.html

Robert Z. Pearlman
Thu, July 27, 2023 at 4:00 PM EDT
a woman in a black jumpsuit stands with arms crossed in front of a room with rolling chairs and conference tables
It's been a full month since Kelly Haston moved to Mars.
As commander of NASA's first CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog) mission, Haston and her three crewmates volunteered to live for more than a year secluded inside "Mars Dune Alpha," a 1,700-square-foot (158 square meters) Mars base-like habitat that is located not on the Red Planet, but rather at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
As Haston and her crew — flight engineer Ross Brockwell, medical officer Nathan Jones and science officer Anca Selariu — simulate life on Mars, a team of scientists "back on Earth" are monitoring the crew's ability to complete tasks and work through the types of stresses astronauts might encounter to better prepare for sending astronauts to Mars in the future.
To keep conditions as close to real as possible, communications with the CHAPEA crew are on limited to the same transit times it would take a signal to pass between Earth and Mars. As such, video or phone interviews are not possible. With the help of CHAPEA mission control, though, collectSPACE.com was able to interview Haston via email to learn what life inside Mars Dune Alpha has been like during her first 30 days.
Related: 1 year on 'Mars:' NASA analog astronauts begin mock Red Planet mission
four smiling people holding up a tan banner with the logo of the chapea mock mars mission on it
four smiling people holding up a tan banner with the logo of the chapea mock mars mission on it
collectSPACE (cS): Thinking back to June 25 and your first day in the habitat, can you recount your first 24 hours inside?
Kelly Haston: We were so happy upon ingress to the habitat that as soon as we got through the door and it closed, we formed a spontaneous group hug and let out a big cheer. It made the crowd watching the ingress laugh, and then we heard them cheer for us. It was very a special moment.
That first night we spent time unpacking our gear and setting up our bedrooms, then we had a celebratory hot chocolate.
The next day we had a full day of tasks set up for us. Our activities are tracked using an interactive app that provided prompts and document links to the things we are scheduled to do. This both helps keep us on schedule and also lets mission control know that we have completed tasks. When there are problems or changes to the schedule, we alert mission control of these in the mission log. Due to the time delay, we have learned to be prepared ahead of time, as if you figure out something is wrong, or missing, at the start of a task, it will take over 30 minutes for that to be communicated to mission control and for us to hear back with a solution. This means we are often troubleshooting issues on our own while waiting for mission control to get back to us with additional information.
We also have specified exercise that we complete and document on days when we are not leaving the habitat to do work on the Martian surface. Additionally, we document all food and liquids we ingest. On our first day we did all of those things but also took the opportunity to inventory the items in the habitat, as it was important for us to know where everything is, but also to make sure that the items we thought were sent with us were indeed present and report discrepancies to mission control.
cS: How long was it before the initial excitement of a new experience wore off — if, indeed, it has — and you settled into a routine?
Haston: I am not sure that the initial excitement has fully worn off; we are still often doing new things each week and learning a great deal. However, the team works really well together, and we dropped into daily schedule and work norms fairly quickly, so I think we had a routine fairly quickly, and by the second week we felt fairly good about the schedule and completing our daily mission goals in an efficient manner.
Related: The 9 coolest mock space missions
a long hallway with a red sandy floor and printouts on the walls to make it looks like a martian landscape
a long hallway with a red sandy floor and printouts on the walls to make it looks like a martian landscape
cS: What is a typical day for you now? Can you give us a brief "day-in-the-life" of an analog Mars mission crew member?
Haston: A day in the life is a hard one; as mentioned previously, we have a fair bit of variety. I will give an example from a day that we go out onto the Martian surface. We call these EVAs or extravehicular activities where we go, we go outside the habitat and walk around on "Mars" and perform different task that you would expect are needed to keep a Martian base running and sometimes utilize virtual reality, which is really fun and very beautiful.
We start the day around 06:00 by weighing ourselves right after we get up, as the scientists running the simulation want to collect as much data as possible and also make sure we are staying healthy. After getting cleaned up we have breakfast and tag up, discussing the coming day's tasks and needs, and answering any outstanding queries from the day before. This is a chance to change the schedule if needed or make sure all things are covered and that everyone knows their role for the day.
Then we do a quick pre-brief for the EVA, although often we have discussed this the night before as well. Following the pre-brief, the team that is performing the EVA exits the habitat and starts to move through a series of airlocks and procedures that will eventually have them stepping onto Mars in their simulated spacesuits, with any tools required for the day's goals.
The two crew left inside will trade off being the mission control giving directions to the EVA crew, as well as getting their daily exercise and any other inside tasks completed. When troubleshooting is required, the inside crew will often combine forces to ensure we move through the issue as quickly as possible to enable the EVA crew to complete their goals in the allotted time.
When they come back in there is time to get cleaned up, because it is often quite sweaty, hard work, and the suit and gear are big and heavy, and then we do a de-brief where the crew discusses what went well and possible improvements or alternative approaches for next time. Sometimes we also do surveys or testing after EVAs that are part of the data collection for the project.
We then do any additional tasks or maintenance the habitat requires, eat dinner, and then have personal time, as well as some time to write in our journals. In general, we are lights out by ~22:00, to get enough rest to do it all again the next day.
cS: What have you found to be the biggest challenge so far?
Haston: The biggest challenge so far is communication with our loved ones and family. The time delay and data restrictions mean that things can get held up unexpectedly, or be slower than expected, if a lot of different items are queued up at the same time. We have worked through several unexpected challenges in this regard, so it's been a steeper learning curve that I thought we would need.
Happily, that is the major challenge we have faced so far, and we hope it is getting better. The daily challenge of being on Mars has so far been very fun.
Related: What would it be like to live on Mars?

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#1 2021-08-07 20:30:07

NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#2 2021-08-08 08:12:24

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#3 2021-08-08 08:45:32

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#4 2021-08-08 12:19:30

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#5 2021-08-11 12:14:48

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#6 2021-08-11 21:23:00

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#7 2021-08-11 21:59:00

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#8 2021-08-12 19:58:25

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#9 2022-09-13 07:55:37

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#10 2023-06-24 17:17:24

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#11 2023-06-24 17:40:20

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#12 2023-07-05 04:06:35

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

#13 2023-07-28 17:30:36

Re: NASA Mars Simulation at Houston Johnson Space Center

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