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Would they survive a year on a place like the planet Mars? NASA's latest experiment

2023-04-17 20:13:19Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Would they survive a year on a place like the planet Mars? NASA's latest
Would they survive a year on a place like the planet Mars

If already living with family and friends can be difficult, imagine sharing the same cramped spaces 225 million km away from home, with limited resources and in a hostile environment like that of Mars.

To study the psychological strength of future astronauts, NASA has dedicated an area of ​​the Johnson Space Center in Houston to Mars Dune Alpha, a 3D printed habitat that most faithfully reproduces the characteristics of future bases on the Red Planet.

Starting in June, four volunteers who have not yet been selected, but with high levels of preparation in science subjects, will spend a year in these meager 160 square meters, completely isolated from the outside, except for a few 22-minute phone calls delay in communication, as there will be between Mars and Earth.

To the extent possible, they will be subject to a workload and resource constraints similar to those faced by future inhabitants of a Martian colony. They will have access to limited food supplies, experience equipment failures that will be resolved with what little they have, and will have to conduct simulated space missions outside of the habitat they will access. through an airlock and after wearing fake spacesuits.

Mars Dune Alpha is what is scientifically called a Martian "analog" and is the basis of NASA's simulation program called CHAPEA (Crew Health Performance Exploration Analog). It's not the first experiment that seeks to replicate living conditions on Mars, but it has the advantage of doing so in a type of architecture that is technically reproducible on the Red Planet: 3D printing would actually make it possible to create spaces and tools directly on the ground, easing the cargo to be transported on the expensive and dangerous journeys to Mars.

Analog includes four private beds for residents with a shared bathroom, dedicated workstations, a medical room, a dining area and a relaxation area with board games, Play Station 3 and Super Nintendo, indoor greenhouses where leafy greens and tomatoes are grown . Outside is another 110 square meters in an inflatable bubble filled with sand and decorated with photos of Martian landscapes.

In this area, the "astronauts" will carry out simulated activities outside the vehicles, with the help of the "tapis roulant" and virtual reality viewers, which will reproduce the effect of long walks on the surface of Mars.

In some cases, they will be asked to identify interesting rock samples, photograph them and bring them back in for analysis or evaluate sites for future base expansions. After returning they will have to take care of the maintenance work of the base, cleaning and care of the solar energy panels. NASA will also analyze the tenants' waste to understand what kind of waste is produced in a Martian environment and how it can be reused.

The group will be closely monitored with psychological tests and blood tests to detect any signs of physical and mental stress. Compared to other past missions, this seems to be the aspect in which the US space agency is most interested: "We don't have a lot of data about what happens to someone who stays in isolation for a year," explained Suzanne Bell, director of the NASA Johnson Space Center Health Laboratory mindset and performance.

“Not only will these people have to get along. They will also have to work well together." If this does not happen, two backup astronauts are expected for the same number of changes so that data collection can continue.

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