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Mars Dune Alpha is a Martian environment that spans 158 square meters.2It was created using a 3D printer and is housed in a building at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Paid volunteers will work on a simulated Mars exploration mission, including: spacewalks; limited contact with family; limited food and resources; and equipment malfunctions.
NASA is planning three of these experiments. The first one is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2022. Volunteers living in a simulated Mars environment will reportedly eat only ready-to-eat food, their living quarters will have no windows, and they will also experiment with growing some types of plants. "We want to understand how humans function. We're looking at realistic scenarios on Mars," said research team leader Grace Douglas.
According to a recent announcement from NASA, candidates will need a Master's degree in engineering, mathematics, or computer science, as well as at least two years of piloting experience. Only U.S. citizens or those with a U.S. green card are eligible to apply. Candidates must also be between the ages of 30 and 55, in good health, have no special dietary requirements, and not suffer from motion sickness.
The plan shows that NASA is looking for people who are closer to astronaut standards. The experiment would yield better results if the volunteers resembled those who are about to fly to Mars. Previously, hypothetical missions to Mars were conducted.Mars 500The Russian program ended incompletely because the participants were people with ordinary occupations.
Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who spent five months on the ISS in 2013, said that attitude is crucial, and that the right person for the mission needs to be competent, resourceful, and not dependent on the emotions of others.
