Four volunteers are set to leave a Mars habitat simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center on Saturday, after nearly 380 days inside. The crew, part of NASA's CHAPEA mission 2, has been living in a simulator housed in a hangar at the center. The mission studies how isolation, distance and a hostile environment affect people before NASA sends crews to deep space. Because of the simulation's conditions, the crew could not give live interviews. NASA instead shared a podcast in which crew members talked about the past year.
Crew members said they conducted simulated spacewalks, ran experiments and tested technology. They also learned to cut their own hair, fix plumbing and perform health checks. Crew member Ellen Ellis said the crew performs self-blood draws and practiced using an ultrasound probe.
John DeWitt, Rice University's director of sports science and a former NASA scientist, said the crew's heavy exercise raises a food supply challenge for future deep space missions. NASA is currently accepting applications for the next mission, according to officials.