NASA Crew Completes 378-Day Simulated Mars Mission

Four volunteers emerged from NASA’s simulated Mars habitat in Houston on October 31, completing 378 days in isolation during an experiment designed to study the demands of long-duration space missions. The crew lived and worked in a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed facility at Johnson Space Center as part of the agency’s second Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog mission, known as CHAPEA. The crew members were commander Ross Elder, medical officer Ellen Ellis, science officer Matthew Montgomery and flight engineer James Spicer. They entered the habitat on October 19, 2025, and carried out simulated Mars operations while managing limited resources and maintaining the facility. Their activities included growing crops in simulated Martian soil and communicating with NASA officials through deliberately delayed exchanges. The delays were intended to reflect the time lag expected in communications between Earth and Mars. The crew also performed routine upkeep; one account said the regimen included simulated spacewalks and exercise. Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche welcomed the crew as they left the habitat. She said they had maintained it, managed limited supplies...