NASA Opens Recruitment for Yearlong Moon and Mars Analog at Johnson Space Center
The integrated two‑habitat simulation will collect crew health and operations data to guide NASA’s Artemis program, Moon Base planning, Mars mission preparations.
Overview
- NASA announced applications for the Moon and Mars Exploration Analog July 1–2 and plans to run a yearlong simulation no earlier than August 2027 at Johnson Space Center.
- The analog merges two prior programs by using a HERA habitat to represent transit and a CHAPEA habitat to represent a surface base in a single, linked mission.
- Selected volunteers will live in confined, resource‑limited conditions and carry out realistic tasks such as mock Mars walks, scientific exploration and rover operations beyond the main habitat.
- Applicants must meet specific education and physical criteria, complete a multi‑day selection process and pass NASA’s medical and psychological assessments with applications submitted through the agency’s Analogs Recruiting web page.
- Data from the simulation will be used by NASA’s Human Research Program to validate life‑support systems, procedures and crew countermeasures and to inform design and training decisions for Artemis, a sustained lunar presence and future crewed Mars missions.