
Four Nasa volunteers are living on 'virtual Mars' for the next 12 months
Would you sign up to live in isolation for a year, all in the name of furthering scientific research? Probably not, we’re guessing, but that’s exactly what four NASA volunteers have agreed to do over the next 12 months. The participants will live in an environment created to simulate conditions on the surface of Mars as part of NASA's Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog for 378 days. The people involved are research scientist Kelly Haston, structural engineer Ross Brockwell, emergency medicine physician Nathan Jones and US Navy microbiologist Anca Selariu. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The simulation has been built at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and will see the four volunteers undertake a series of tasks as part of the exercise. Data collected over the next 12 months will help to inform future missions to send astronauts to Mars. During that time, the guests will take part in activities such as crop growing as well as simulated spacewalks and other operations. The 3D-printed hub they’ll spend their time in contains a kitchen, sleeping areas, two bathrooms as well as work and recreation spaces. The mission will also see the guests faced with simulated obstacles, which are designed to test responses to equipment failure, communication delays and other issues. Speaking at a recent briefing, the mission's principal investigator at NASA Grace Douglas said: “Thank you all for your dedication to exploration. Our best wishes go with you." Haston also spoke, calling her fellow participants an "amazing group of dedicated individuals who feel very passionate about space exploration and science." "The crew has worked so hard this month to get ready for this mission," Haston added. "It has been very special to be a part of such a tremendous group of scientists and specialists from a diverse set of backgrounds working together to bring CHAPEA 1, the first of three missions, to reality." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-06-28 21:56

Jennifer Lawrence did not have a 'secret fling' with Liam Hemsworth
Jennifer Lawrence is setting the record straight about speculation she and Liam Hemsworth had a "secret fling" while he was with Miley Cyrus.
2023-06-28 21:51

Wall Street Journal: Wagner boss planned to capture top Russian defense chiefs
Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin planned to seize two of Russia top military officials when he launched a short-lived mutiny on Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing Western officials.
2023-06-28 21:45

Anheuser-Busch hopes its new ads will change the conversation
As Bud Light continues to face fallout from its partnership with a transgender influencer, its parent company is rolling out commercials centered on some of its 65,000 workers and partners.
2023-06-28 21:29

‘Dome of Doom’ Scorching Texas and Mexico Is About to Spread (1)
The heat that has set records across Texas and Mexico will be spreading across the central and southern
2023-06-28 21:22

Cincinnati Reds: 3 familiar faces to trade for not named Aroldis Chapman
Former Red, Aroldis Chapman has been the center of trade rumors recently. But these three former Reds provide more realistic trade options for them.Former Reds closer Aroldis Chapman has been at the center of a ton of trade rumors regarding a potential reunion with the Cincinnati Reds. This rumo...
2023-06-28 21:18

Dorset men in court over alleged tree investment fraud
The men are accused of fraudulently promising returns on a forestry scheme in Costa Rica.
2023-06-28 21:18

Paris: Macron calls police killing of teen 'unforgivable'
His words followed the shooting of a 17-year-old who failed to obey traffic police in the Paris region.
2023-06-28 20:56

Judge grants request to delay trial in extortion case against Joran van der Sloot
A judge has granted a motion to delay the trial date in the case against Joran van der Sloot, a Dutch national accused in the alleged extortion of the mother of Natalee Holloway, the American teenager who disappeared during a high school graduation trip to Aruba in 2005.
2023-06-28 20:50

Polaris guitarist Ryan Siew dead at 26
Australian metalcore band Polaris have confirmed the death of guitarist Ryan Siew at the age of 26.
2023-06-28 20:49

Kaliningrad profile
Provides an overview of Kaliningrad, including key facts about this Russian territory on the Baltic.
2023-06-28 20:48

USMNT news: Balogun to Lille, Steffen to Leicester, Pepi to PSV
Today's USMNT news includes Folarin Balogun being linked with Lille, Zack Steffen is a target for Leicester City and Ricardo Pepi is set to join PSV.USMNT news: Folarin Balogun to LilleArsenal are set to go on a tour of the USA next month, where they will play fixtures against the MLS ALL-S...
2023-06-28 20:47