NASA recruits volunteers for year-long Moon and Mars analog mission

NASA is seeking U.S. citizens or green‑card holders aged 30 to 55 to take part in a 14‑month simulated Moon and Mars mission, called the Moon and Mars Exploration Analog (MMEA). The program will begin in August 2027 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and will involve four volunteers living in two sealed habitats that mimic a spacecraft and a planetary surface. Participants will conduct research, grow plants, perform EVA simulations and undergo health monitoring to study the effects of isolation, limited resources and altered day‑lengths.

Candidates must be no taller than 188 cm, pass rigorous physical and psychological tests, and hold a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field such as engineering, biology, physics or mathematics. The mission is designed to provide data for NASA’s Artemis lunar‑base plans and future crewed missions to Mars. Volunteers will receive compensation, though the exact amount has not been disclosed.