NASA Mars Simulation Crew Ends 378-Day Mission

The four members of NASA’s CHAPEA mission 2 are exiting a mock Mars habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston on October 30, after 378 days inside. NASA is livestreaming their departure, which requires the crew to pass through an airlock.

James Spicer, Ellen Ellis, Matthew Montgomery and Ross Elder entered the 1,700-square-foot facility on October 19, 2025. The 3D-printed habitat recreated some challenges of a long space mission, including isolation, communication delays and limited resources.

During the simulation, the volunteers conducted mock spacewalks, maintained the habitat, grew plants and carried out experiments. They also handled tasks such as plumbing repairs, haircuts and health checks. Ellis said the crew performed blood draws themselves and practiced using an ultrasound probe.

The mission is intended to help NASA study how people cope with the demands of deep-space travel and prepare for future missions. John DeWitt, a former NASA scientist and Rice University sports science director, said providing enough food for crews exercising heavily is one challenge the agency must address.

Elder said he missed weather, busy streets and everyday commotion. Ellis said she was looking forward to seeing her husband when the habitat door opened. NASA has begun accepting applications for another year-long analog mission, set to start no earlier than August 2027.