NASA Welcomes Media to Witness the Final Stages of Yearlong Mars Simulation Completion

The four volunteers who have spent over a year living and working in a simulated Mars mission environment will step out of their habitat on Saturday, 31st October, following 378 days of isolation at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. This simulation, part of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) initiative, aims to gather health and performance data that could inform strategies to mitigate risks associated with human spaceflight during future Artemis and Moon Base missions.

Live Coverage of the Historic Departure

Beginning at 3 p.m. EDT, NASA will broadcast live coverage of the volunteers’ exit from the CHAPEA mission habitat. The ceremony will be streamed on NASA Johnson’s YouTube channel and various social media platforms.

Attendees will hear from Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche and NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway, alongside remarks from the CHAPEA crew members: Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, James Spicer, and Matthew Montgomery. This event marks a significant milestone as the crew emerges from their year-long expedition.

Members of the media are welcomed to witness the ceremony live at NASA Johnson, where they can view the event on a screen located outside the hangar housing the CHAPEA facility. Following the exit, a subject matter expert will be available on-site to respond to queries. The media will also have the unique opportunity to capture the moment the crew steps outside for the first time in over a year.

Media Participation and Engagement Opportunities

U.S. media representatives who wish to attend the activities in person, or those interested in engaging virtually with the CHAPEA Mission 2 crew in the days following the conclusion of their mission, are encouraged to contact the NASA Johnson newsroom by 2 p.m. on Friday, 30th October, via email at jsc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.

The second CHAPEA mission commenced on 19th October 2025, during which the four crew members have inhabited a 3D-printed facility spanning 1,700 square feet. Their activities have closely mirrored the demands of a Mars mission, including conducting simulated spacewalks, exercising, maintaining their habitat, and cultivating plants, all while managing the stressors anticipated in future deep space missions, such as communication delays and resource limitations.

Impact of the Mission on Future Space Exploration

The extensive data collected during this mission is expected to significantly enhance preparations for NASA’s lunar missions. Insights gained will inform the design of food systems, optimize crew time management, improve bandwidth utilisation on NASA’s Deep Space Network, and refine other critical aspects of deep space living. Additionally, this data will be instrumental in aiding flight doctors and psychologists in fortifying medical care and behavioural support practices, ultimately ensuring crew readiness and optimal performance during long-duration missions.

For further information regarding NASA’s CHAPEA mission, please visit the official NASA website at: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/chapea.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Rachel Kraft
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov

Kelsey Spivey
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kelsey.m.spivey@nasa.gov