Six scientists will spend a year together in isolation on the Big Island as they embark on the longest Mars habitat simulation ever attempted in the United States.
Starting Aug. 28, the crew of three men and three women will lock themselves in a small dome on Mauna Loa’s north flank, only to venture outside in Hazmat or space suits.
The mission is to test the limits of group cohesion on a long-term space voyage with little contact with the outside world.
The group will be the fourth to run the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation, though they will be the first to spend an entire year in isolation.
While that may seem crazy to some, or at least the making of reality TV show, HI-SEAS Principal Investigator Kim Binsted said they had no shortage of serious applicants.
The NASA-funded program received about 700 applicants before the simulations started in 2013, with many eager for the longest mission, she said. In all, there were more than 100 who qualified.
“There’s a hardcore subset who really wanted to the longest one,” Binsted said.
Sheyna Gifford could be included among them.
The astrophysics, neuroscience and psychology researcher said she is both excited and intrigued by the mission and is not too worried about spending such a long time in isolation with only five other people. After all, she did it once before during another NASA space simulation, though that lasted for a month.
“There are only two choices: love each other or hate each other,” said Gifford, 37, of St. Louis. “And you choose love each other right away.
“It’s kind of startling how quick you make that choice.”
Each scientist will have his own research to conduct during the year in the dome.
Gifford, who is also a doctor, said hers will involve hygiene and making medical equipment with a 3-D printer.
Before the mission begins, each crew member will have to prepare to put his life on stasis.
They are allowed Internet access while living in the dome, though on a limited basis. Communications are also put on a delay with “mission control” to make the simulation as real as possible.
“Emotionally, you have to begin to separate yourself from all the goings on on Earth,” Gifford said.
“And it’s already begun. You tell your friends, you tell your family, and you get your affairs in order. You let everyone know they are coming with you.”
After this simulation ends, Binsted said HI-SEAS would begin to publish its research, which will hopefully take humanity another step closer to a real mission to the red planet.
The program is funded through 2018; additional simulations likely will be a little shorter and focus on other objectives, she said.
Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.