NASA Seeks People for Isolation Study to Prepare for Moon and Mars

NASA is seeking candidates to go into isolation¹ for eight months in an experiment to help prepare for long-term stays on the moon and Mars².

Researchers say results of the study will help them better understand the physical and mental effects on humans spending extended periods in space.

The experiment is part of NASA's Human Research Program. The program seeks to discover and develop "the best methods and technologies to support safe, productive³ human space travel."

Until now, American astronauts have only spent long space stays on the International Space Station - ISS. Most of these missions lasted several months, with the longest reaching nearly a year.

The Human Research Program's new research is centering on NASA's future exploration goals that will involve more distant space travel for longer periods.

The agency has said its Artemis program aims to return humans to the moon by 2024. Next, it plans to establish a long-term base on the moon by 2028. Astronauts could live on this base for long periods to carry out experiments and possibly launch missions from there to the moon or Mars.

For the isolation study, NASA is partnering with the Institute of Biomedical Problems of Russia's Academy of Sciences. The experiment will take place at the organization's research center in Moscow.

There are some requirements for individuals interested in taking part. Candidates must be between the ages of 30 and 55 years old and speak both English and Russian. They need a college degree and/or military training or professional experience. All individuals must also pass medical and psychological examinations.

Those chosen for the study "will experience environmental aspects similar to those astronauts are expected to experience on future missions to Mars," NASA said in a statement.

Crew members in the six-person group will work closely while carrying out scientific research. Some of the experiments will involve virtual⁴ reality and performing robotic operations to prepare for future missions to the moon and Mars, NASA said.

The new experiment will build on a four-month study that ended in July 2019. That study – involving an international crew of six - took place at the same research center in Moscow.

In 2016, six scientists took part in a year-long Mars simulation⁵ in Hawaii. During that study, the scientists could only go outside their small experiment area while wearing space suits. The research centered on how well the team worked together in long-term isolation, as well as the psychological effects on humans.

The European Space Agency carried out a similar experiment in Moscow that started in 2010. The Mars simulation study – known as Mars500 - included six crew members, three Russian, two European and one Chinese.

It was the longest such experiment yet, lasting⁶ 520 days. Parts of the environment were built to simulate⁷ an actual spacecraft and Mars transportation vehicle. During the 520 days, the individuals had only personal contact with each other. They could also communicate with family and friends, but only in the same ways that would be permitted during a real space mission.

I'm Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

isolation – n. the state of being separate from other people, places or things

mission – n. an important task, usually involving travel somewhere

aspect – n. one part of a situation, problem, subject, etc.

virtual reality – n. a set of images and sounds produced by a computer to represent a real place or situation

simulation – n. a recreation of a process or situation

1 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

2 Mars   

n.火星，战争

参考例句：

• As of now we don't know much about Mars.目前我们对火星还知之甚少。
• He contended that there must be life on Mars.他坚信火星上面一定有生物。

3 productive   

adj.能生产的，有生产价值的，多产的

参考例句：

• We had a productive meeting that solved some problems.我们开了一个富有成效的会议，解决了一些问题。
• Science and technology are part of the productive forces.科学技术是生产力。

4 virtual   

adj.实质上的，事实上的，实际上的

参考例句：

• This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.这一回答实质上是接受了我们的建议。
• At that time the East India Company was the virtual ruler of Bengal.那时东印度公司是孟加拉的实际统治者。

5 simulation   

n.模拟

参考例句：

• To make the training realistic the simulation operates in real time . 为使训练真实，模拟是实时运行的。
• a computer simulation of how the planet functions 行星活动方式的计算机模拟

6 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

7 simulate   

vt.模仿，模拟，假装，冒充

参考例句：

• The wood had been painted to simulate stone.木头上刷了漆以看起来像块石头。
• A sheet of metal was shaken to simulate the noise of thunder.猛力抖动金属片以模仿雷声。