NASA Simulated Mars Crew Marks One Year Inside Habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston

Four volunteers in a simulated Mars mission have marked one full year living inside an isolated habitat at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, known as CHAPEA, places participants in an environment designed to replicate conditions on the Red Planet.

The four-person crew entered the 1,700 square-foot, 3D-printed habitat on October 19, 2025. Over the past 365 days, they grew crops, managed limited resources, handled communication delays, and conducted suited spacewalks on a simulated Martian surface. The crew consists of mission commander Ross Elder, medical officer Ellen Ellis, science officer Matthew Montgomery, and flight engineer James Spicer.

The participants are scheduled to exit the habitat on October 31 to conclude their 378-day mission. Following their departure, they will undergo two weeks of post-mission evaluations and debriefs. NASA scientists will review health and performance data collected during the year to help counter spaceflight risks and prepare for future long-duration missions to Mars and the Moon.

CHAPEA principal investigator Grace Douglas praised the crew's commitment to the demanding mission.

Michael Stenger, chief scientist for NASA’s Human Research Program, stated that the controlled environment provides valuable insights into medical and psychological care under communication delays.