Effingham High School alum Nathan Jones, MD walked through the doors of Effingham High School for the first time since graduating in 2001 to speak with high school students about his mission with NASA. Invited by Science teacher Mrs. Habing, the medical officer gave two presentations in the EHS Library.
Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) is a series of analog missions that simulate year-long stays on the surface of Mars. The first mission included Nathan Jones and three other crew members living in Mars Dune Alpha, an isolated 1,700 square foot habitat for 378 days. They celebrated holidays and birthdays, gave each other haircuts, and found moments of levity in isolation. He returned to his family earlier in July. His son had celebrated two birthdays since his volunteer mission.
The high-fidelity simulation involved the crew carrying out different types of mission objectives, including simulated “marswalks,” robotic operations, habitat maintenance, exercise, and crop growth. The crew also faced intentional environmental stressors in their habitat such as resource limitations, isolation, and confinement.
“One of the biggest things I have learned on this long-duration mission is that we should never underestimate the effects of small gains over time,” said Jones. “Be willing to do the hard things now and it may make all the difference for the future.”
The CHAPEA missions are critical to developing the knowledge and tools needed for humans to one day live and work on the Red Planet. What a great opportunity for our students! Thank you for sharing your story Nathan Jones!