Astronauts wanted for NASA’s year-long simulated Mars mission starting next year

NASA is looking for "highly motivated individuals" to take part in year-long Mars simulation missions on Earth.

The US space agency wants to see how they respond to living in conditions similar to the surface of the Red Planet.

There will be a series of missions based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, starting next Autumn.

They include three year-long simulations which will be used to develop new methods and technologies to help survive on Mars and the Moon.

Each mission will consist of four crew members living and working in a 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed module called Mars Dune Alpha.

A spokesman said: "The habitat will simulate the challenges of a mission on Mars, including resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays, and other environmental stressors.

"Crew tasks may include simulated spacewalks, scientific research, use of virtual reality and robotic controls, and exchanging communications. The results will provide important scientific data to validate systems and develop solutions."

Grace Douglas, lead scientist for NASA’s Advanced Food Technology, said the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog "is critical for testing solutions to meet the complex needs of living on the Martian surface.

“Simulations on Earth will help us understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they go.”

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Unfortunately for Brits, NASA is only looking for "healthy, motivated" US citizens or permanent residents aged 30 to 55 years.

They have to be non-smokers and speak good English so they communicate effectively with mission control and pass NASA's standard astronaut candidate applicant criteria.

Crewmates will either need a master's degree in a field such as engineering, maths or science with at least two years' professional experience or a minimum 1,000 hours piloting an aircraft.

"Candidates who have completed two years of work toward a doctoral program in STEM, or completed a medical degree, or a test pilot program will also be considered," said a spokesman.

"Additionally, with four years of professional experience, applicants who have completed military officer training or a Bachelor of Science in a STEM field may be considered."

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