NASA seeks volunteers for year‑long Mars analog mission

NASA announced a search for up to four volunteers to spend a simulated year on Earth in a habitat that replicates the confinement and resource limits of a Mars or Moon mission. The "Moon and Mars Exploration Analog" will combine a small confinement module (HERA) with a larger base (CHAPEA) and is scheduled to launch in August 2027 after a two‑month training period. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or green‑card holders aged 30‑55, fluent in English, under 1.88 m tall and hold advanced degrees in engineering, biological, physical sciences or mathematics, with no special dietary or sleep‑related needs.

A separate study by scientists at China’s Tsinghua University, published in *Science*, examined human embryonic stem‑cell‑derived germ‑cell precursors flown on two Chinese space missions. The research found that development of cells that become eggs and sperm was reduced by about 50 % and 26 % respectively, with notable disruptions to cell architecture and metabolism, suggesting that microgravity may impair human reproduction well before fertilisation. While the experiments did not involve whole organisms, the findings highlight additional biological challenges for future long‑duration lunar or Martian colonies.