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After spending a year isolated, on Sunday appeared behind the doors of a white dome three men and three women. They came from “Mars”.
The group had been sharing a space of only 111 square meters, without air or fresh food, much less privacy, since 29 August last year.
actually were in the plains of red volcanic stone Mauna Loa, Hawaii , USA.
But l idea it was to simulate a human mission on Mars , the Hi-Seas project of the university of Hawaii funded by NASA.
Just out of his lair every two and a half days for “Mars missions” where should perform specific tasks dictated to him from the center control “Earth”.
And should do encased in their spacesuits.
But as there were only two of these outfits, opportunities out were limited.
“Mars Missions”
“ the first thing I did when I got up on ‘Mars’ was check the weather and energy levels ” , counted on his blog Sheyna E. Gifford, chief medical officer, security officer and journalist team.
This was what sat the tone, not only of his day, but of the entire crew.
“it was what determined our ability to perform the tasks assigned to us from the control center of the mission” he said.
Then he took a little of the water they purified in the greenhouse, made sure that did not have some urgent mission and started exercising.
in total, scientists they spent 365 days doing countless experiment on plant growth, soil and fertilizer and making constant maintenance to ensure that they were running all systems that ensured their survival.
at this time they did not see another human being and could only communicate with the outside world via internet connections that were 20 minutes late, to simulate the difference between Mars and Earth.
“Here appearances are not very important, fashion is nonexistent and the property is communal,” described Gifford.
“And all things you Might like do on a day like eating, sleeping, exercising, perform your own experiments or writing a memoir pass into the background “.
The priority of this crew was to ensure that there was light, potable water, a roof that resisted storms , healthy crops that would provide them food and communication with “Earth”.
“which is why none of us have at least yet -. a written memoirs These were in the closet, behind the tools we used to repair the water pump and ecological toilets “.
In his limited free time, they had books, movies and video games.
Displays hair
Perhaps the most important experiment was study the behavior of these human and mental health as the days passed.
to do this, all astronauts -so called them during the experiment- had a part of shaven head, which should cut each time reaching a centimeter long.
this sample analyzed the levels of cortisol that will help predict which parts of a real trip to Mars will be more difficult to carry and which require more distraction.
for some astronauts, the best way to release the stress of being isolated for so long was to make these sporadic “spacewalks”.
“Put on the spacesuit was like showering” said Jocelyn Dunn, principal investigator of the project, during the press press that took place after the departure of false astronauts.
“It is a private place, and the sound of the fan (the suit) is like the sound of water” described.
Human Behavior
for those who remained inside, the dome was designed so that its inhabitants could keep stress to a minimum.
the living space was 368 cubic meters, where a second level had six small rooms that consisted of a single bed . In the common area there was a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, a shower and an exercise area.
In addition, each astronaut had laboratory and workshop.
This lessened friction and cultural differences that inevitably arose after so long coexistence.
“ It’s like having fellow rooms that are always there and can never escape them “said the commander of the Carmel Johnston mission. “I’m sure that many can imagine.”
All these experiences of living will, according to the astronaut Tristan Bassingthwaighte, specializing in the human element of a spatially trip to choose the crew in a future mission researcher Mars.
the team consisted of a French astrobiologist, a German physicist and four Americans, and study results will be announced later.
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