Why NASA Locked Four Volunteers In 3D-Printed ‘Fake Mars’ Habitat For 378 Days

NASA has embarked on one of its most ambitious human research experiments to date, sealing four volunteers inside a simulated Mars habitat for 378 days. This mission, known as CHAPEA (Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog), is designed to prepare humanity for the challenges of sending astronauts to the Red Planet. While some call it “fake Mars,” the project is anything but make-believe. 

The CHAPEA program consists of a series of long-duration experiments inside Mars Dune Alpha, a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat located at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The habitat mimics the isolation and resource constraints astronauts would face on Mars.

During the mission, the crew lives and works much like real astronauts would on the Red Planet. From growing crops in limited conditions to conducting scientific experiments and managing supplies, their every action helps NASA collect valuable data. The first CHAPEA mission began in 2023, and the second, launched on October 19, 2025, is now underway with four participants.

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People Inside “Fake Mars”

The current mission’s primary crew includes Ross Elder, a US Air Force major and experimental test pilot, and Ellen Ellis, a colonel serving as an acquisitions officer in the US Space Force. Two other crew members complete the team, while Laura Marie has been selected as one of the backup participants, ready to step in if a crew member drops out.

This team will spend more than a year in confinement, working under conditions that simulate real Martian challenges, including communication delays with Earth, limited resources, and complete isolation from the outside world.

Why Call It “Fake Mars”?

The nickname “fake Mars” stems from a common misunderstanding. Because the habitat is on Earth, some might view it as an artificial stunt. But in reality, these simulations are serious scientific experiments. They allow NASA to test technologies, procedures, and human resilience before sending astronauts millions of miles away from Earth.

Far from being “fake,” CHAPEA provides a safe, controlled testing ground for the kinds of scenarios future explorers will face during NASA’s Artemis program and eventual crewed missions to Mars. 

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The 378-day mission aims to answer critical questions: How does long-term confinement affect human psychology? Can a small crew remain cohesive under stress? What medical, nutritional, and operational strategies ensure survival on a distant planet?