NASA's Human Isolation Experiment

Extreme isolation is something our greatest explorers have faced in varying degrees. Now, a team of six NASA recruits have begun a year-long mission on the desolate side of a barren Hawaiian volcano that will simultaneously test the human capacity to withstand the sanity-straining mix of both extreme isolation and a total lack of personal space.

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Extreme isolation. It’s something our greatest explorers have all faced in varying degrees in their quests to extend the boundaries of the possible.

This week, a team of six NASA recruits began a year-long mission on the desolate side of a barren Hawaiian volcano that will simultaneously test the human capacity to withstand the sanity-straining mix of both extreme isolation and a total lack of personal space.

A French astrobiologist, a German physicist and four Americans, a pilot, architect, journalist and soil scientist will spend the next 365 days together inside a very small dome where they will live without a breath of fresh air or a single bite of fresh food. They’ll survive on such gourmet items as powdered cheese and canned tuna.

Why on Earth are they doing this? Because it’s what must be done to leave Earth.

NASA needs to know if people can keep from going totally insane on an Earth-to-Mars-and-back manned mission. The trip, tentatively scheduled now to launch sometime in the 2030’s, could take 1-3 years each way.

The Hawaiian experiment will be grueling. The entire dome is just 36 feet in diameter. For privacy, each subject will only have a tiny room with barely enough space for a bed. Every time they venture outside, they’ll need to wear a spacesuit, just like they would on Mars, where the average temperature is -60 degrees celsius.

It will be the longest isolation experiment ever conducted by the US.

In 2011, the European Space Agency together with Russia and China, completed a series of mock-missions, culminating with six men spending 520 days straight in a series of cylindrical steel modules. That mission was a success, with all six subjects emerging in good shape, but the current NASA mission in Hawaii -- with its extremely tight quarters, chances to go outside, and mix of men and women -- is the most realistic simulation of time on Mars yet.

"I think one of the lessons is that you really can't prevent interpersonal conflicts,” says Kim Binsted, a NASA investigator. “It is going to happen over these long-duration missions, even with the very best people."

The eventual astronauts will also have to overcome the psychological impact of seeing the Earth fade away while hurtling through space on a dangerous mission, a feeling no person has ever had before, at least not since the Apollo missions of the 1960’s.

Thanks for watching. I want to know from you, what obstacle, whether it be mental, technological, or physical, do you think is the most challenging to overcome if we’re going to see humans survive a mission to Mars in our lifetimes?

[illuminis]

Overcoming sexual urges will probably be a primary challenge.

[kevinnnn]

I'd have no problem as long as there is internet in that dome.

[UnnTHPS]

They really need a private place made specifically for masturbation. It's for their health.

[LazyScoutJace]

Makes me think of 'The Martian'

[IceCreamExplosion]

I would love to be sent to Mars. I don't have those closerphobic things. I love space, science and technology. I would love to go to Mars and stay there :)

[userwhosinterestedin]

Currently, private companys are taking over space travel business. That might be good for financial reasons, but when it comes to make new steps forward in science and exploration or to achieve crucial historic efforts like a successfull mission to Mars, in my opinion this has to be done together by deputys of whole mankind itself, e.g. a common United Nations joint-venture programm of co-operating national space agencys. Seeing the first Mars base being titled "McDonalds City" or "Samsung Center", even using content from the first planned manned Mars trip as a part of a Reality TV show actually makes me very sad, thinking about a fresh deep point of human nature and commerce overexagerration.

[ibissuau]

I am listening to the podcast of daily lives if these people doing the experiment in HI. It is called The Habitat. It is awesome.

[naqib_]

With all due respect, there are extremely poor people in Bangladesh who live on far worse food, breathe factory smoke and live in much more cramped homes without the luxury a separate bed for each person for the greater part of their lives. The only real difference is that there is no isolation

[mrfatso]

Time will be the greatest challenge that's ten years away from earthly contact were your only company are the 3 people around you as you hurtle through space unsure of what is to come

[HomeSkillenSLICE]

We dont even have the technology yet lol. MIT researchers tore the 2022 experiment apart. Gonna be a long while I think.

[southerntiger]

They should try Antarctica because it's cold and isolated there.

[sillyslimes]

They need to have some type of robotic therapist or psychiatrist if like some people go crazy or get into a fight or something.

[lifelearnlove]

1:31 For Americans who only understand in Fahrenheit like myself:
-60 Celsius = -76 Fahrenheit

[CaddilacJoe]

i thought there dome was rather spacious it must be that there is 6 of them sharing it but still there looked to be plenty of room for personal space one would hope this is taken into consideration and a replication of the exact same building is made on Mars when the time comes I'd love to know temperatures on Mars the material used to make the building and how they delt with knowning the they are taking 3 years they can't get back out of there life

[myunself]

i don't understand something, why should this experiment be anything new if there is already an alleged international space station (ISS) with similar or worse conditions ? (not including lack of gravity)

[Samson]

Wasnt there a scifi horror film where an astronaut goes insane ands starts murdering the other astronauts?

[chuffman]

I feel like not being able to get some privacy will be an issue. When i moved into a new a place, it took time for me to use to the style of my roommates and every once in a while i felt like i just needed some space. these guys cant just go for a walk or go to a bar n get some alone time so i feel like that might be an issue, at least it would for me.

[jonssyy]

No MSNBC? No Sirius XM Progressive Talk? No Reeses flavored ice cream bars? I'm out!

[nemanja]

They should send nerds to Mars, some of us have been in willing isolation for years. A year in isolation? Pffft :P

[northerngamer]

I think they should really get some plants in the dome, and they may actually grow taller on Mars because of the weaker gravity. This will require a much bigger dome, but it would be beneficial to human health. Also a few experiments growing plants with the Martian atmosphere will be pretty useful, due to Mars's abundance of CO2 (if we figure out how to block solar wind).