Long-Term Isolation Experiment on Astronauts

A cosmic biologist, a physicist, a pilot, an architect, a journalist, and a soil scientist are set to spend a full year without contact with the rest of the people on Earth under a white dome on the slopes of a volcanic mountain on one of the Hawaiian islands. Don't be mistaken; this is not a Hollywood movie plot but an experiment conducted by NASA (the U.S. space agency). The aim of this experiment is to simulate human life on Mars and it is considered the longest trial period of its kind, during which the volunteers are under constant observation. They will have no access to fresh air, food, or private space for a year, and if they wish to exit the dome, they must wear a spacewalk suit. Under this white dome, which is only eleven meters wide, cameras meticulously monitor the behavior and bodily movements of these six individuals. This experiment examines the effects of long-term isolation on a human group, something that is expected to occur during space travel. One of the NASA researchers states that one of the lessons we will learn is to examine the tensions between the volunteers, which is unavoidable even for the closest individuals. Each of the three women and three men in this experiment will have a sleeping bag and a desk in their very small room under the dome. Their food will consist of powdered cheese and tuna fish. Currently, the stay duration at the International Space Station in Earth's orbit is six months. Isolation experiments usually have four or eight-month durations that focus more on the technical and scientific capabilities of astronauts. This experiment is the first to specifically investigate human behavior in a confined space. The volunteers have been selected from France, Germany, and the United States.