NASA CHAPEA crew to exit Mars simulation habitat Saturday

NASA said the four volunteers who lived and worked in a simulated NASA Mars mission will exit their habitat on Saturday, Oct. 31, after 378 days of isolation at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Health and performance data collected during the simulation can help NASA develop methods to counter human spaceflight risks for future Artemis and Moon Base missions. The data can also help flight doctors and psychologists strengthen spaceflight medical care and behavioral support practices.

NASA will provide live coverage beginning at 3 p.m. EDT of the volunteers’ departure from the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog mission habitat. The exit ceremony will also be streamed through NASA Johnson’s YouTube and social accounts.

Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche and NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway will provide remarks. CHAPEA crew members Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, James Spicer, and Matthew Montgomery will also provide remarks during the ceremony.

The second CHAPEA mission began on Oct. 19, 2025. The four crew members lived and worked inside a 3D-printed 1,700-square-foot facility that simulated Mars mission operations. They conducted simulated spacewalks, exercised, performed habitat maintenance, grew plants, and carried out other activities.

The crew operated under stressors that future deep space crews will likely experience. These included communication delays, resource limitations, and isolation. NASA said data from the mission can aid preparation for its lunar missions by optimizing food system design, efficient use of crew time, bandwidth on NASA’s Deep Space Network, and other aspects of living in deep space.