The document discusses HI-SEAS, a habitat located on Mauna Loa, Hawaii that is used to simulate long duration space missions on Mars. It provides an environment for testing astronaut crews in isolation for 4+ months and allows researchers to control mission parameters like communications latency. The habitat can accommodate 6 crew members and includes a laboratory and space for field work. When not in use for simulations, the portable habitat is available for education and outreach in the local community. The organization is now seeking crew for three back-to-back missions of 4, 8, and 12 months to study crew psychology and performance on long duration space exploration missions.

1. HI-SEAS.ORG
KIM BINSTED, BINSTED@HAWAII.EDU

3. Long duration, high latency missions
– what does NASA need?
•Astronaut or astronaut-like crew
•High-fidelity mission profile and
environment
•Long-duration (4+ months) studies
•Site that allows both crew isolation
and easy access by researchers
•High level of control of mission
parameters (e.g. communications
latency) by researchers

4. HI-SEAS
• Small, self-contained, low-impact, portable
habitat
• Accommodates six crewmembers in ~1000 sq ft
• Laboratory and ‘robot garage’
• At disused quarry at ~8200’ on Mauna Loa side of
Saddle Road
• Visually isolated with very little visible
plant/animal life
• Many opportunities for relevant field work (e.g.
geology, microbiology) in area

5. Habitat design

7. Education and Public Outreach
When not in use for analog missions, HI-SEAS
will be available for education and public
outreach. Potential activities include:
• Visits by community groups
• High-school robotics testing
• Undergraduate research projects
• Neighbor island visits (the habitat is portable)
Seems to resonate with the public – lots of
media coverage!
Crews are explicitly tasked with EPO.

8. • Selected from ~700 applicants, ~150
qualified, 30 interviewed
• 1st selection strategy: “astronaut-like” to our
best approximation – input on upcoming
crews would be appreciated
• 2nd selection strategy: avoid obvious
demographic isolation
• International: 2 non-US
• Linguistically diverse: 3 fluent in English as a
second language
• No fewer than 2 of any gender
• Military/non-military background (failed a bit
here)
• Engineering/science balance, with a soupcon
of communication skills
Current crew

9. Next Phase: Key contributors to the
maintenance and regulation of team
function and performance on long
duration exploration missions
• Three missions (4, 8 and 12 months in
length) over three years
• All about crew psychology and
performance
• Now seeking:
Crew for all three missions. Selection criteria?
International participation?
Opportunistic research projects
Mission support models – medical,
psychological?