As of: February 29, 2024, 5:22 a.m
By: Laura Hindelang
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In preparation for a Mars mission, NASA is looking for people to live on a test site for a year.
Interested parties must meet a few criteria.
The US space agency NASA is looking for volunteer “Martians”.
Although these will not actually be sent to the red planet, the conditions at the test site in Houston, Texas are intended to simulate life on Mars as closely as possible.
With this long-term project, NASA wants to find out what future astronauts need to survive a real Mars mission.
Interested parties can apply until April 2nd.
Life on the test site is scheduled to begin in spring 2025.
NASA is looking for four candidates for Mars simulation
The “Mars Dune Alpha” test site comes from the 3D printer, is 160 square meters in size and, according to the
Süddeutsche Zeitung,
confronts the astronauts with the same challenges that would be expected in a manned Mars mission: no fresh air, a meager selection of astronaut food and at least 20 minutes delay in communications.
NASA is conducting a series of year-long missions in which volunteers simulate life on Mars.
© imagebroker/Imago
This is the second of three missions in the CHAPEA program (“Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog”).
The first phase started in June 2023. At that time, four people were locked in the test site.
In a job advertisement, the space agency is now looking for four more “Martians” who want to try out life on the red planet.
Applicants must meet some criteria:
Master's degree in a scientific field, including engineering, life sciences, natural sciences, computer science or mathematics.
Two years of professional experience or at least 1,000 hours of flight time as a pilot in a jet aircraft.
Age between 30 and 55 years.
U.S. citizenship or U.S. permanent residence.
Passing the NASA Long-Term Flight Astronaut Exam.
Non-smoker.
Good knowledge of English “to enable effective communication between crew members and mission control.”
Interested parties should also be “healthy and motivated” and have a “strong desire for unique, rewarding adventures,” according to the job advertisement.
The year-long simulation
also requires applicants to pass a criminal background check, psychiatric screening and medical evaluation, according to a report by
Business Insider .
Finally, you sign up for twelve months of isolation in a small space with three other people.
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NASA job posting does not provide salary details
This seems to be working well on the current mission.
The four test subjects get along very well, writes the
Süddeutsche Zeitung
.
An Instagram post from
ZDF today
shows the participants' areas of responsibility: On the simulated Mars, they should, among other things, take care of the harvest and the living area, maintain the machines and do sports.
Compensation is provided, but NASA does not provide any salary details.
In this point, the job offer is similar to all other job advertisements, jokes an Instagram user under the post.
The other comments also show more amusement than serious interest:
“Please send Putin there.”
“The mission sounds good, but to Texas?
Then it’s better to go straight to Mars.”
"Please me!
I can’t stand it here, I’ll do it for free.”
“If you don’t have to pay license fees, I’ll be there straight away.”
“Is there WiFi there?”
It will probably be a few years before an actual Mars mission can start.
The next optimal constellation in space with the fastest flight route to the red planet would be 2033.
You can find everything about jobs and careers in the regular career newsletter from our partner Merkur.de.
According to the US space agency NASA, the preparations cannot be made by then, said Ulrich Walter, former astronaut and professor of space technology, to the German Press Agency.
NASA administrator Bill Nelson does not expect a manned mission to Mars until 2040.