NASA Mars Simulation Crew Emerges

Four volunteers will emerge Oct. 31 from a NASA habitat after spending 378 days isolated in a simulated Mars mission at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The completion of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) Mission 2 will be livestreamed beginning at 3 p.m. EDT.

The crew members—Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, James Spicer and Matthew Montgomery—will take part in an exit ceremony and provide remarks alongside Johnson Center Director Vanessa Wyche and NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway. Media will be able to watch the event and capture the crew’s first steps outside the facility in more than a year.

The mission began Oct. 19, 2025, inside a 1,700-square-foot, 3D-printed habitat. During the simulation, the volunteers conducted mock spacewalks, exercised, maintained the facility, grew plants and operated under conditions including communication delays, limited resources and prolonged isolation.

NASA said data from the mission could help prepare crews for future Artemis and lunar base missions by improving food systems, crew scheduling, communications planning, medical care and behavioral support. U.S. media seeking to attend in person or arrange virtual interviews must contact the NASA Johnson newsroom by 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 30.