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Mars Habitat Crew Exits After 378 Days
31 Oct
Summary
- Crew of four lived in a 1,700-square-foot mock Mars habitat for 378 days.
- Volunteers simulated Mars mission operations, including spacewalks and growing plants.
- Data from the mission will inform future lunar and Mars mission designs.
The second crew of NASA's Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) mission has successfully concluded their 378-day stay in a mock Mars habitat. Four volunteers, Ross Elder, Matthew Montgomery, Ellen Ellis, and James Spicer, entered the habitat on October 19, 2025, and emerged today, October 31, 2026. They resided in a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed facility at NASA Johnson in Houston, Texas.
During their year-long simulation, the crew engaged in various Mars mission operations, including simulated spacewalks, habitat maintenance, and cultivating plants. They experienced stressors akin to actual space travel, such as communication delays and resource limitations. NASA has been running CHAPEA missions since 2023 and is accepting applications for a new analog experience combining CHAPEA elements with other simulations, set to begin no earlier than August 2027.
