Four scientists earlier this month after a year and turns out, it was not as terrifying as one might presume. While speaking to The Guardian, Anca Selariu, a US navy microbiologist and one of the four members described her experience as "absolutely exhilarating." Selariu and her team were part of NASA's Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog which took place in a 3D-printed 1,700-square-foot habitat 'Mars Dune Alpha' at the Johnson Space Center.
She was accompanied by Ross Brockwell, Kelly Haston, and Nathan Jones in the endeavour which started on June 25, 2023. The group spent a total of 378 days inside the habitat which had living quarters, a kitchen, two bathrooms, gym and laboratories for scientific research. But beyond these Earthly luxuries, they were subjected to real world problems like communication delays, isolation and food management similar to what astronauts will face on .
Apart from the research work, Selariu revealed that the crew spent their time watching TV and reading while she worked to improve her drawing skills. ALSO SEE: Every aspect of the crew's activities and their mental status was closely monitored by NASA officials outside the habitat for a year. Selariu and her mates also had to step out of their cabins in an enclosure fully suited up for 'Marswalks'.
They also constantly encountered a 44-minute roundtrip communication delay between the outside world mimicking the actual conditions on the red planet. Selariu, who conducted medical researc.
