LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Four volunteers will spend a year inside a 3D-printed habitat at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas State as part of a mission simulation to help prepare for future human exploration of Mars, the agency said Monday.

Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, Matthew Montgomery, and James Spicer will enter the 1,700-square-foot (158-square-meter) Mars Dune Alpha, a 3D-printed habitat, on Oct. 19 to begin their 378-day mission, which is scheduled to conclude on Oct. 31, 2026, said NASA.

During the simulation, the crew will face realistic challenges such as limited resources, equipment malfunctions, communication delays, isolation and confinement, as well as simulated high-intensity extravehicular activities. These scenarios are designed to help NASA assess risks and develop strategies for long-duration space exploration.

The participants will conduct scientific research and operational tasks, including simulated Mars walks, growing a vegetable garden, robotic operations, and testing technologies designed for Mars and deep space exploration, such as a potable water dispenser and diagnostic medical equipment, according to NASA.

The project is part of NASA's Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog program, carried out in the 3D-printed habitat to evaluate certain human health and performance factors ahead of future Mars missions. ■