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Four volunteers complete 378-day NASA Mars mission simulation in Houston

The crew emerged from NASA’s Mars Dune Alpha habitat at Johnson Space Center after 378 days in isolation, completing a simulated mission designed to help prepare for a future human expedition to Mars. The four-person experiment recreated aspects of living and working on the planet without leaving Earth.

Discovered 2026-11-01T07:28:05.166438-08:00 | 2026-11-01T07:28:05.166438-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The 378-day isolation study gives NASA experience with the human and operational demands of a long-duration Mars mission, using a four-person crew in a simulated habitat.
Findings from the experiment can inform planning for future crewed exploration, including how astronauts live and work during an extended mission far from Earth.

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