NASA's Simulated Mars Crew Completes One Year in Isolation

The four crew members in NASA's simulated Mars mission have completed one year living and working in isolation in a confined habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog Mission 2 crew members have operated as though they were on the Red Planet for 365 days. Crew members include Ross Elder, mission commander, Ellen Ellis, medical officer, Matthew Montgomery, science officer, and James Spicer, flight engineer.

The crew entered their 1,700 square foot 3D-printed habitat Oct. 19, 2025. They have grown crops, managed limited resources, navigated communication delays, and conducted suited extravehicular activities on a simulated Martian surface. The agency said science teams at NASA prepared to process health and performance data collected on the crew during the 378 day mission.

The crew will exit their habitat on Saturday, Oct. 31, to conclude their mission. They will have a chance to reconnect with their families, who they have only spoken with via email over the course of their mission with a Mars-like communication delay. The crew will then begin two weeks of post-mission evaluations and debriefs with NASA scientists.

The agency said this critical data can help NASA balance priorities and develop methods that counter spaceflight risks during future long-duration missions on Mars. The data could shed light on how limited food and exercise systems will influence NASA's ability to achieve mission objectives, including spacewalks on the surface of Mars. Some data also could help NASA foster autonomy and build decision-making support systems that best aid crew with communication delays lasting up to 45 minutes each way.