NASA Crew Ends Mars Simulation After 378 Days
Four volunteers complete simulated Mars mission at Johnson Space Center.
The Brief
- Crew spent 37,8 days in a 1,700-square-foot Mars-like habitat.
- Simulation included communication delays of up to 44 minutes.
- Crew will undergo two weeks of post-mission evaluations.
The four crew members of NASA's CHAPEA mission, who spent 378 days in a Mars-like habitat, were welcomed back to Earth by their families on Saturday. The crew, consisting of commander Ross Elder, medical officer Ellen Ellis, science officer Matthew Montgomery, and flight engineer James Spicer, lived in a 3D-printed, 1,700-square-foot facility at the Johnson Space Center since October 19, 2025.
The simulation included communication delays of up to 44 minutes, mimicking the time it would take for messages to travel between Earth and Mars. The crew experienced a two-week communication blackout during the mission, simulating a potential solar eclipse blocking communication between the planets.
After reuniting with their families, the crew will begin two weeks of post-mission evaluations with NASA scientists to provide insights and recommendations for future exploration.
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