NASA has unveiled a fake 'Mars' on Earth, where it plans to send four volunteers for year-long stints to help prepare astronauts for exploration of the planet. 9News
has unveiled a fake Mars on Earth, where it plans to send four volunteers for year-long stints to help prepare astronauts for exploration of the planet.
Mars Dune Alpha, the new 3D-printed habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston has "sandbox" filled with red dust to recreate the landscape of the mysterious planet. The volunteers - selected from public applicants - will even do simulated "Marswalks" using virtual reality technology and treadmills.Mars Dune Alpha, the new 3D-printed habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston featured a "sandbox" filled with red sand to recreate the landscape.
The base, which at 111 square metre environment is about the size of a small house, has four private crew quarters, workstations, a medical station, common lounge areas and a galley and food growing stations, which saw an astronaut played by Matt Damon, stranded on Mars and forced to survive. NASA warned the realistic habitat will force the crew to face "environmental stressors such as resource limitations, isolation, and equipment failure".NASA bosses say it will be as "realistic as feasible," with crew facing "environmental stressors such as resource limitations, isolation, and equipment failure" in the 111sq m environment.