First CHAPEA Crew Begins 378-Day Mission
by Staff Writers
Houston TX (SPX) Jul 11, 2023
The inaugural CHAPEA, or Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, mission began Sunday, June 25, when the four-person volunteer crew entered its new home at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to begin a 378-day Mars surface simulation.
This is the first of three planned missions. NASA will use research gained from CHAPEA to determine how to best support crew health and performance while living on Mars during a long-duration exploration mission.
During the CHAPEA simulations, crew members will carry out different types of mission activities, including simulated spacewalks, robotic operations, habitat maintenance, personal hygiene, exercise, and crop growth. To be as Mars-realistic as feasible, the crew also will face environmental stressors such as resource limitations, isolation, and equipment failure.
Related Links
Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA)
Analog Missions
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more