A group of six crew members has left their Mars simulation habitat located on Mauna Loa, Hawaii, US, where they have lived in near isolation for a year.

During their stay in the mountain, located around 8,200ft above sea level, the crew lived in a geodesic dome set in a Mars-like environment.

The Nasa-funded project, Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) has been run by the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH).

It was UH’s fourth HI-SEAS project, with which Nasa intends to understand how teams of astronauts will perform on long-duration space exploration missions, including those required for human travel to Mars.

“HI-SEAS is an example of international collaborative research hosted and run by the University of Hawaii."

HI-SEAS’ principal investigator and University of Hawaii Manoa professor Kim Binsted said: “HI-SEAS is an example of international collaborative research hosted and run by the University of Hawaii."

Last year, Nasa awarded a third grant to HI-SEAS to keep the research project and its missions funded through 2019.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The research will also help researchers to propose strategies for crew composition for deep space missions and help determine the best ways to support such crews while they are working in space.

French HI-SEAS crewmember Cyprien Verseux said: “I can give you my personal impression, which is that a mission to Mars in the close future is realistic.

“I think the technological and psychological obstacles can be overcome.”

UH’s Binsted has already started recruiting for the next two HI-SEAS missions scheduled to begin next year and 2018 respectively.

Image: HI-SEAS crewmembers exited their Mars simulation habitat. Photo: courtesy of University of Hawaii System News.