See inside NASA's 3D-printed Mars habitat where 4 volunteers will live for a year. It includes a gym, PlayStation 4, and a lot of red sand.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
NASA has unveiled its 1,700-square-foot Mars habitat where four volunteers will live for 12 months.
There's a sandbox, treadmills, lounge, kitchen, and even a PlayStation inside.
The crew will conduct spacewalks, exercise, grow crops, and maintain the habitat during the mission.
NASA is already preparing to launch humans to Mars in the 2030s by creating an environment on Earth that appears similar to the red planet, with red sand and pictures of dunes.
NASA
The Martian habitat, called Mars Dune Alpha, was created using a 3D printer from Icon, a Texan construction-tech firm. It's a 1,700 square-foot structure.
And it's all happening in this warehouse based at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
As part of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog mission, NASA will select four volunteers to spend 12 months in this habitat, pretending they're living on Mars. The mission is projected to start in June.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
Over the year, the crew will carry out different activities, including simulated spacewalks and robotic operations. They'll also grow crops, exercise, maintain the habitat, and keep up personal hygiene.
It won't be an easy ride for the crew. NASA said they'll be tested with being isolated, equipment breaking down, and having limited resources.
NASA
Here's a glimpse into what the Mars habitat is like.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
There are various types of equipment at work stations and office desks where the crew will conduct experiments during the mission.
NASA
This 1,200-square-foot sandbox will be used to carry out simulated spacewalks known as "Marswalks." The red sand adds to the feel of the Martian landscape.
The crew will be required to exercise while they stay in the confined habitat. NASA installed gym equipment, such as a rowing machine, in one area.
NASA
There are also two curved treadmills with straps attached. The crew can use them to pretend they're walking on Mars.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
Given that the crew will remain in the habitat for a long time, there's a medical room in case they feel unwell or become injured.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
Separate from the working spaces, there's a living room area with several flatscreen TVs, chairs, and a kitchen.
NASA
The lounge area offers space for the volunteers to relax on sofa chairs and watch TV. There's a PlayStation 4 in the cupboard, along with board games such as Monopoly and Catan: Starfarers to keep the crew entertained.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
The kitchen area comes with a microwave, kettle, and sink.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
During the mission, the crew can grow plants, such as tomatoes and salad, in the vertical farm. This aims to determine what it'll be like to produce crops on Mars.
The four narrow bedrooms have single beds, desks, and some storage inside.
NASA
The bathroom includes all the usual features. NASA intends to monitor the crew's personal hygiene, throughout the experiment.
NASA
Alongside more exercise equipment is a washing machine.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
While some areas of the habitat like the kitchen and lounge area make the habitat seem normal, features like this door for the airlock room are a reminder for crew members that they're living in a simulated extraterrestrial environment.
REUTERS/Go Nakamura
Correction: April 14, 2023 — An earlier version of this story incorrectly described the type of PlayStation included in the habitat. It was a PlayStation 4, not 3.
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