A NASA crew is about to finish a yearlong Mars mission isolation experiment [Video]

NASA is concluding a yearlong Mars mission experiment — and four volunteers are set to leave a simulated Mars habitat that they’ve been living in since June of last year.

NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog experiment was built to research how to keep astronaut crews healthy and productive during long missions to Mars. It took place in a 1,700 square-foot 3D-printed habitat that mimics the conditions crews will face during a Mars mission.

On June 25, 2023, Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell and Nathan Jones entered the habitat and have been inside ever since.

They have run science experiments, practiced mock Marswalks and even farmed some of their own food, bringing a bit of Earth’s green with them.

“Salad crop production may supplement the packaged meals, reduce menu fatigue, and provide a creative outlet for the crew to add a variety of fresh produce to their diet,” …