Scientists spend a year in isolation to simulate permanence on Mars

Even if you're from the gang that doesn't see the slightest problem spending time alone - and even enjoys a hint of loneliness every now and then - you must agree that staying for long periods without getting in touch with the outside world is no chore. not easy. In fact, countless studies have shown that lack of social life can affect us very negatively and even shorten our lives!

For lack of human contact is one of the many challenges that future astronauts will be sent on long-term missions. Thus, to study the possible consequences of isolation on space adventurers, NASA invited a group of six brave Earthlings to cohabit for a whole year a region of restricted access in the mountains of Hawaii and thus simulate their stay on Mars.

Odd experience

According to Jon Comulada of the Up Worthy portal, the experiment - dubbed HI-SEAS - took place in partnership with the University of Hawaii, and the group of six scientists occupied a geodetic dome just under 11 meters in diameter for 365 days. The group's isolation period ended on August 28.

The Geodesic Dome - On Lie Mars

This was the longest space travel simulation ever conducted in the United States, and its main objective was to find out what could happen to astronauts who are forced to live in confined spaces for extended periods and whose exits abroad are limited by clumsy space suits. And the organizers of the experiment took great care in the simulation!

All a lie

To give you an idea, although the "astronauts" had access to the news of what was happening on Earth, the information was transmitted with considerable delay, "mimicking" what would happen if the participants were actually on the Red Planet - as the messages it would take a long time to travel from here to Mars.

Simulation on a whim!

Now think of all the misfortunes that have happened from August of last year so far: terrorist attacks, refugee crisis, natural disasters ... Scientists have learned everything, but much later than all of us - and realizing that no could help in no way by being "stuck on another planet." One of the participants even lost a loved one during the experiment period and could not say goodbye.

Isolation

In addition, every time the lying astronauts had to leave the dome, they were required to use all the paraphernalia necessary to survive the inhospitable Martian environment. In addition, they spent the 365 days eating food prepared especially for space travelers.

Despite the difficulties, the lying astronauts said that they gradually adapted to the “Martian” routine and took up a lot of activities, such as scientific research, dome maintenance, physical exercise, meal preparation. and many other little things.

***

Now that the confinement is over, participants are happy to be able to return to earth and normal life - and are being supported to readjust to the old routine. Both NASA and the University of Hawaii are busy analyzing all the data collected during the experiment and are confident that the simulation will allow future space travel to be better planned.