• Science
  • Space

Mock Mars Crew Returns After a Year in Isolation

1 minute read
Black lava mountains near the coast and highway Chain of Crater Road. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Big Island. Hawaii. Lava fields and the pacific ocean with a fish eye lens, Volcano National Park. Recent lava flow, pahoehoe type lava. Hawai?i Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, is a United States National Park located in the U.S. State of Hawai?i on the island of Hawai?i. It encompasses two active volcanoes: Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's most massive subaerial volcano. The park gives scientists insight into the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and ongoing studies into the processes of vulcanism. For visitors, the park offers dramatic volcanic landscapes as well as glimpses of rare flora and fauna. In recognition of its outstanding natural values, Hawai?i Volcanoes National Park was designated as an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980 and a World Heritage Site in 1987. In 2000 the name recommended to be changed by the Hawaiian National Park Language Correction Act of 2000 observing the Hawaiian spelling, but that bill died. In 2012 the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was honored on the 14th quarter of the America the Beautiful Quarters series. Photo by: Sergi Reboredo/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Black lava mountains near the coast and highway Chain of Crater Road on Big Island, Hawaii.Sergi Reboredo—picture-alliance/dpa/AP
By Mahita Gajanan

Six crew members on a mock mission to Mars returned to society on Sunday after a year of living in isolation in Hawaii.

The crew members were housed in an empty habitation on the slopes of Mauna Loa as part of the Hawaii Space Exploration Analogue and Simulation (HI-SEAS) program, which seeks to help scientists understand the affect of isolation on humans as they explore deep space.

The crew left the habitat around 3 p.m. E.T. Sunday after living together for a year with limited contact with the outside world, NBC News reported.

Applications are open for the next round of participants interested in the isolation missions. HI-SEAS will send teams to the mock habitat in 2017 and 2018 for eight months at a time.

More Must-Reads from TIME

Write to Mahita Gajanan at mahita.gajanan@time.com