Participants in a Mars simulation [AP=Yonhap News file photo]

"Fed up with life on Earth? Why not try spending a year living on the moon or Mars?"

On the 9th (local time), CNN reported on the Moon and Mars Exploration Analog (MMEA), for which NASA began accepting applications earlier this month.

The MMEA is a one-year simulation program designed to provide a realistic experience of traveling to the moon and Mars, as well as living on those planets.

Participants live in a confined environment that mimics space, where they perform tasks just like astronauts, such as growing crops, managing health, and simulating spacewalks.

The simulation is scheduled to take place at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston after August 2027, with NASA selecting four individuals from the pool of applicants.

NASA spokesperson Kelsey Spivey stated, "The simulation will help reduce the risks that astronauts might face during space travel and Mars landings."

Through this experiment, NASA also plans to study how participants adapt to Martian time.

A Martian day, known as a 'sol,' is 40 minutes longer than an Earth day. This time difference can affect sleep, health, and task performance.

Eligibility for this simulation is limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents aged 30 to 55. Individuals outside this age range may also be considered. Applicants must be no taller than 188 cm (6 feet 2 inches) and must be proficient in English.

Applicants must also meet specific academic requirements. Like astronauts, they must hold a bachelor's degree in a STEM field, such as engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. Military experience is also considered, and those with advanced degrees in scientific or technical fields are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must be willing to participate in a 14-month program held at the Johnson Space Center.

The program consists of 12 months spent in two separate confined spaces that simulate the space environment, along with two months of pre- and post-simulation training.

Applicants must pass physical and mental evaluations. They must have no history of sleepwalking or the use of sleep aids, and must have no dietary restrictions.

NASA will conduct the experiment in three segments across two simulated living environments.

In the first phase, participants will live in a 60-square-meter mock spacecraft, simulating the journey to the moon or Mars.

The four participants will each have small private quarters for living, working, and sleeping, which also include a small bathroom.

In the second phase, participants will move to an 84-square-meter, single-story facility to conduct health and well-being experiments. They will also practice spacewalks in a sandbox designed to mimic the surface of another planet.

The final phase involves returning to Earth in the mock spacecraft.

"Previous simulations mimicked well-established, large-scale planetary surface habitats, but this one is designed to mimic the initial stages of Mars surface infrastructure," said NASA spokesperson Spivey. "This will help NASA answer questions regarding its short-term lunar base goals."

Previously, NASA conducted the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) project, which included 28 transport simulations and two planetary surface habitat simulations.

The current MMEA is the first project to integrate both transport and habitat experiments.

Nathan Jones (43), a physician who participated in a Mars simulation in 2023, shared in an interview with CNN that the experience made him appreciate the simple things in life.

"During the year-long study, I missed my wife and children. It was difficult to miss events like birthdays, holidays, graduations, and other personal milestones," Jones recalled.

"The food NASA provided was fine, but the menu was limited. Other than a few vegetables we grew ourselves, there was nothing fresh," he added. "During the mission, there was no sunlight and no wind. It wasn't until the mission ended that I learned to appreciate those things."