NASA is recruiting to send humans to Mars as soon as 2037

NASA said on Friday that it is seeking a few good men and women to assist in the advancement of its goal of transporting people to Mars by 2037.

The US space agency is looking for ‘highly driven individuals' to take part in a year-long Mars surface simulation in which they would live in a 1,700-square-foot Mars Dune Alpha module 3D-printed by ICON. 

Three one-year Mars surface simulations located at NASA's Johnson Space Center are part of the Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog series of missions.

The analogues will fund research on strategies and technology for preventing and resolving potential issues on future human spaceflight trips to the Moon and Mars. 

"The analog is critical for testing solutions to meet the complex needs of living on the Martian surface," said Grace Douglas, lead scientist for NASA’s Advanced Food Technology research effort at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. 

"Simulations on Earth will help us understand and counter the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before they go."

The program consists of three simulations, with the first starting in 2022, and each will see four crew members spend 365 days completely isolated in the mock habitats of the Red Planet.

Applications are available now and will close on September 12, 2021.

Participants must be between the ages of 30 and 55, hold a master's degree in a STEM discipline, and have at least two years of comparable work experience to be considered. 

Basic eligibility for this mission:

Be a US citizen or permanent resident

Be within the ages of 30-55

Possess a master's degree* in a STEM field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics, from an accredited institution.

Have at least two years of related professional experience in a STEM field or at least 1,000 hours of pilot-in-command time on jet aircraft.

Be able to pass the NASA long-duration flight astronaut physical.

*The master's degree requirement can also be met by:

Two years (36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours) of work toward a doctoral program in a related science, technology, engineering, or math field.

A completed Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.

Completion (or current enrollment that will result in completion by June 2021) of a nationally recognized test pilot school program.

*Participants with a Bachelor’s degree and other specific qualifications (e.g., relevant additional education, military, or at least 4 years of professional experience in a STEM field) may also be considered.

(With inputs from agencies)