NASA Seeks Volunteers for 14-Month Mars and Moon Mission Simulation in Texas
NASA is recruiting four volunteers for a new mission simulation called the "Moon and Mars Exploration Simulation," set to begin no earlier than August 2027 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The program will last about 14 months, including two isolated habitats simulating a spacecraft journey and a planetary base, plus two months of training and testing before and after the mission. Participants will live in confined, resource-limited conditions designed to mimic the realities of long-duration space travel, including growing food, maintaining equipment, monitoring health, operating vehicles, and conducting simulated spacewalks on a terrain resembling another planet's surface.
The mission is divided into three phases: first, living in a 60-square-meter habitat simulating a spacecraft traveling from Earth to the Moon or Mars, with individual work and sleep areas and a small bathroom. Next, the crew moves to an 84-square-meter single-story habitat representing a planetary base, where they will grow food, perform experiments, manage limited resources, and practice surface excursions. Finally, they return to the initial habitat to simulate the journey back to Earth. Throughout, NASA researchers will monitor physical and mental health, sleep quality, decision-making, and team dynamics.
NASA aims to identify risks astronauts face on long missions and test systems and procedures to keep crews healthy and functional far from Earth. The agency requires volunteers to be U.S. citizens or green card holders, aged 30 to 55 (exceptions possible), fluent in English, with a maximum height of 1.88 meters, and passing physical and psychological exams. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in engineering, biology, physics, or mathematics, relevant technical skills, and professional experience; advanced degrees and military experience are advantages. People with dietary restrictions, sleepwalking history, or sleep medication use are disqualified.
Volunteers will receive financial compensation, though NASA has not disclosed the amount. The personal cost is significant, involving a year without sunlight, fresh air, or fresh food, and no opportunity for outdoor recreation. Nathan Jones, a doctor who participated in a previous NASA simulation, described missing family events as the hardest part and said the experience deepened his appreciation for simple Earth comforts like open air, sunshine, and fresh food. While participants will not actually travel to Mars, they may return with a profound longing for Earth.
