NASA simulation crew finishes year‑long Mars habitat test
The CHAPEA crew completed its simulated Mars journey on 31 Oct 2026, ending a 378‑day isolation in a 158‑square‑metre 3D‑printed habitat. The four astronauts—Matthew Montgomery, James Spicer, Ross Elder and medical officer Ellen Ellis—entered the sealed facility on 19 Oct 2025 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and performed tasks such as growing crops in simulated Martian soil and communicating with NASA under delayed transmission conditions. Over the next two weeks they will undergo debriefings and evaluations with NASA scientists. NASA says the data will inform future lunar bases and crewed missions to Mars in the 2030s.
Key facts
- Ellen Ellis served as the mission's medical officer.
- Ross Elder acted as mission commander, Matthew Montgomery as science officer, and James Spicer as flight engineer.
- The habitat, named "Mars Dune Alpha," measured 160 square meters and was located in Houston, Texas.
- Crew member James Spicer joked about seeing sunlight for the first time in over a year.
- Ellen Ellis expressed excitement about reuniting with her husband after the mission.
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Why it matters
The results will shape design and operations for upcoming lunar and Martian crewed missions.
What changed
First published from Engadget, CNA, The Straits Times, Dawn and NASA