Meet the CHAPEA Crew: NASA’s Pioneers for a Year-Long Mars Mission Simulation

Four brave volunteers are about to embark on a year-long Mars simulation at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. This mission is a key step toward preparing for future human exploration of Mars and beyond.

Starting on October 19, Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, Matthew Montgomery, and James Spicer will live in a special habitat designed to mimic Mars conditions. They’ll stay there for 378 days, wrapping up their mission on October 31, 2026.

This simulation, called CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog), aims to study how long-duration space missions impact health and performance. The crew will face challenges such as limited resources, equipment failures, and communication delays. They’ll also perform tasks like simulated spacewalks and even grow a vegetable garden, all while using technologies designed specifically for deep space.

Sara Whiting, a project scientist at NASA, emphasized the importance of this research. “As we prepare for crewed Artemis missions, this data will help us understand how to support astronauts living beyond Earth’s resources,” she explained.

Grace Douglas, the principal investigator for CHAPEA, noted that the mission will gather valuable performance data. This information will be crucial for planning a successful human mission to Mars.

This is NASA’s second year-long Mars simulation, following the successful completion of the first, which ended in July 2024. The Human Research Program, which oversees these missions, focuses on keeping astronauts healthy during space travel. Recent studies show that microgravity can lead to muscle loss and bone density reduction, highlighting the need for thorough preparation.

The crew members have impressive backgrounds:

• Ross Elder, a major and former test pilot in the U.S. Air Force, has flown over 35 military aircraft.
• Ellen Ellis, a colonel in the U.S. Space Force, has extensive experience in aerospace systems.
• Matthew Montgomery is an engineering consultant, specializing in robotics and technology.
• James Spicer has worked in satellite communications and spacecraft design.

Joining them as alternates are Emily Phillips, a Marine Corps captain and F/A-18 pilot, and Laura Marie, a commercial airline pilot and mentor for aspiring aviators.

As this mission unfolds, the insights gained will not only benefit future Mars missions but also enhance our overall understanding of human health in space. This research could have far-reaching implications, even influencing how we approach long-term living conditions on Earth.

For more detailed insights into space health research, visit NASA’s Human Research Program.

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Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA), Human Research Program