NASA is recruiting four volunteers for a year-long simulated Moon and Mars mission that will help researchers prepare for future deep-space exploration. The mission is scheduled to begin no earlier than August 2027 at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Selected participants will spend 12 months living in an isolated habitat while performing astronaut-like tasks, including simulated spacewalks, operating a rover, growing crops, maintaining the habitat and conducting scientific research under limited-resource conditions. They will also undergo about two months of training and post-mission medical and psychological evaluations.
The opportunity is not open internationally. According to NASA, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents who meet the agency's education, health and professional eligibility requirements. Filipinos who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents do not qualify for the program.