The four volunteers will receive a monthly stipend and will perform a simulation mission of Mars exploration complete with spacewalks, limited communications back home, limited food and resources, and equipment failure.
According to Russia Today, the volunteers will spend 365 days at Mars Dune Alpha, a 1,700-square-foot (518-square-meter) Martian unit created with a 3D printer, and inside a building at the Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Texas.
NASA plans three of these experiments, each lasting one year, with the first beginning in the fall of 2022.
The experiments will provide important scientific data to validate systems and develop solutions to potential problems.
The food will be ready-to-eat space food, and some plants will be grown.
“We want to understand how humans are performing,” said Grace Douglas, chief scientist in NASA’s Advanced Food Technology Division. “It is important to test solutions that meet the complex needs of living on Mars. Simulations on Earth will help us understand and experience the physical and mental challenges astronauts will face before Departure".
Applications open on Friday, August 6, 2021, and the requirements are very strict, including a master’s degree in science, engineering, mathematics or experimental experience.
Only US citizens or permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply.
Applicants must be between 30 and 55 years old, in good physical health, with no dietary problems, and no motion sickness.
Former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield said this shows that NASA is looking for people close to the astronauts.
He noted that this is a good thing because it is a better experience if the participants are more similar to the people who are actually going to Mars.
Those interested will be able to register until September 17, 2021, and NASA warns of some risks to participants, including loss of privacy, bodily injury, or low odds of death.
At the moment, it has not been revealed how much the "job" winners will receive.
