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NASA is seeking four volunteers to take part in a year-long mission simulation designed to help prepare astronauts for future human expeditions to the Moon and Mars.
The Moon and Mars Exploration Analog (MMEA) mission is scheduled to begin no earlier than August 2027 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The program combines elements of the agency’s previous simulation projects into a single experiment that replicates an entire deep-space mission—from the journey to another world and extended surface operations to the return trip to Earth.
Participants will spend 12 months living inside confined habitats that simulate the harsh conditions of space travel and planetary exploration. They will also undergo about two months of training and post-mission medical and psychological evaluations.
During the mission, volunteers will grow food, perform simulated spacewalks, operate a rover and manage limited supplies while following the Martian day-night cycle, which is about 40 minutes longer than a day on Earth.
NASA researchers will monitor participants’ physical and mental health, sleep patterns and team dynamics to better understand the challenges of long-duration space missions. The findings are expected to support planning for future Artemis lunar missions and the first crewed expedition to Mars.
Applicants must meet “astronaut-like” qualifications, including a degree in a STEM field, engineering or biological science, although certain military experience may also be accepted.
Candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents, fluent in English and between 30 and 55 years old. They must also pass psychological assessments to demonstrate they can cope with prolonged isolation, confinement and the absence of fresh air and natural sunlight.
While the mission will not take volunteers to the Moon or Mars, NASA says the program will provide one of the most realistic space mission simulations ever conducted on Earth.
