Between intermittent lockdowns and raging wildfires, mass inequality and capitalism’s never-ending grind, life on Earth has never felt so exhausting. If, like us, you’re reaching the end of your tether, NASA is looking for people to spend a year pretending to live on Mars in the name of science.
The space agency is seeking applicants for a “one-year analog mission in a habitat to simulate life on a distant world”. Four crew members will stay in a 1,700-square-foot space at NASA's Johnson Space Center, where they will perform tasks such as simulated spacewalks and using virtual reality and robotic controls, among other things.
It won’t be easy though: NASA warns that the crew will experience simulated problems similar to those humans might encounter on Mars, such as resource limitations, equipment failure, communication delays, and other environmental stressors.
“Simulations on Earth will help us understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they go,” said Grace Douglas, the lead scientist for NASA‘s Advanced Food Technology research effort at NASA‘s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
However, if you think you’re up to the challenge, the posting calls for US citizens between the ages of 30 and 55 years old with a STEM master's degree or sufficient experience piloting an aircraft. Find out more about the mission on NASA’s website and read about the first sustainable city on Mars here.