Four volunteers finish two‑year Mars habitat simulation

Four research volunteers exit NASA's Mars Dune Alpha habitat on 31 Oct after 378 days, completing the second yearlong Mars surface simulation. They entered the roughly 1,700‑square‑foot 3D‑printed habitat at Johnson Space Center on 19 Oct 2025. While inside they performed simulated Marswalks, robotic tasks, habitat upkeep, exercise and cultivated crops. Ground teams collected health and performance data as the crew operated under communication delays of up to 22 minutes each way. During the same period NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway finished a 237‑day mission aboard the International Space Station, and NASA marked 25 years of continuous ISS presence on 2 Nov 2025.