NASA team reflects on life in year-long Mars simulation with the aim of reaching the planet by the end of the next decade.

NASA officials have disclosed details about life in a Mars simulation and stated that the US may arrive at the red planet by the "end of the next decade."

The four crew members, including Commander Kelly Haston, Flight Engineer Ross Brockwell, Medical Officer Dr. Nathan Jones, and Science Officer Anca Selariu, resided in a 1,700-square-foot Martian habitat for 378 days to investigate and strategize for future expeditions.

"Jones described to Planet Chronicle Digital how working with NASA personnel and experts during the mission was a great opportunity. The daily routine was similar to what one would expect on a Mars or lunar mission, with a morning breakfast and team meeting followed by realistic mission activities."

In their "sandbox," the crew practiced walking on the surface of Mars.

"He explained that it felt like walking on Mars' surface while also experiencing virtual reality spacewalks that made it seem like he was truly walking out on the red planet for an extended period."

The AeroGarden was used by the crew to experiment with growing various crops, including tomatoes and lettuce, through hydroponics.

"Brockwell reflected that we learned a lot about how a food system and exercise program would function, how the habitat design in this iteration would live, ways crews could get along and be effective while having fun in a situation like that."

The team experienced a time delay in their communication with the outside world to simulate how it would be on Mars.

Jones explained that it takes 20 minutes for the signal to reach him and another 20 minutes for it to return, not including the time it takes for him to record it and the bandwidth.

The medical officer informed Planet Chronicle Digital that the simulation enabled the crew to investigate which medical technology would be most beneficial during a Mars mission and how the crew would handle the communication delays while transmitting information back to Earth.

"Jones explained to Planet Chronicle Digital that if one were on a real mission to Mars, they would bring surgical supplies and other necessary items. However, in a simulation, it may not be worth the risk to the crew members to have an ER doctor performing surgery. In a real mission, it might be more appropriate to have the crew member communicating with a specialized surgeon who could perform the procedure."

The biggest challenge in a Mars mission is the length of time it takes to travel there. With a one-way trip taking nine months, the crew must be adequately prepared with sufficient supplies and able to endure an extended period of solitude from their families.

"Shortening the trip would be extremely beneficial, not only for getting the crews there but also for obtaining the necessary supplies," he stated.

Despite being away from their families, the teammates celebrated the holidays together by creating homemade Christmas ornaments, making birthday cakes, and using LED lights to decorate their habitat.

"Brockwell remembered that the mission was a lot of fun. They tried to stay connected to Earth by celebrating birthdays and holidays. This meant a lot to them."

Both Brockwell and Jones expressed their joy at the prospect of learning about Mars through the simulation.

""I think it was as realistic as one could hope for, being earthbound, but it was very interesting and exciting, from beginning to end. It was great," Brockwell said."

"Brockwell emphasized the importance of supporting space exploration for both the United States and the world. He acknowledged that some people may question the value of such efforts given current global events, but he believed that it was still a worthwhile investment. According to Brockwell, space exploration has practical benefits as well as inspiring and unifying humanity. He hoped that there would be broad support and enthusiasm for these goals."