Four NASA Volunteers Exit Mars Simulation After 378 Days

Four volunteers—Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, Matthew Montgomery and James Spicer—emerged Saturday from NASA's 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed Mars habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston after 378 days. They entered October 19, 2025, grew crops, exercised, maintained gear and ran simulated operations under isolation, limited resources and a 22-minute communication delay. The habitat used 3D-printing technology and lava concrete. Vanessa Wyche greeted them on exit. This was the second CHAPEA mission; the first ran 2023-2024. After exiting, Ellis said it had been "a hell of a year — analog astronauts living in captivity of our own free will" and urged seizing the initiative to maintain US preeminence in space. Elder said Mars risks are great but putting humans there is "not only achievable, but rather inevitable," and that the crew was "honored and proud" to have contributed. Spicer was "especially glad to go outside to feel the sun, or a heavy downpour." Wyche said the delays require patience, careful planning and greater independence. No facts are contested across the available coverage. Two weeks of post-mission evaluations are planned, and NASA intends another four-person crew next year.