NASA has chosen a diverse team of four volunteers, including Sri Lanka's Piyumi Wijesekara, to embark on a simulated mission to Mars at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Scheduled to enter the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) on May 10th, the crew will endure 45 days of living and working in conditions akin to those on the Red Planet.
This mission aims to study how astronauts adapt to isolation and remote environments, crucial for future deep space expeditions. Piyumi, a postdoctoral research scientist specializing in radiation biophysics, brings a wealth of expertise to the team, emphasizing the mission's scientific significance. With partners like the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, NASA continues to advance human space exploration, paving the way for future endeavors beyond Earth's orbit.