Student Article
Six Out-of-This-World Experiments Recreating Space on Earth
Isolation (noun): Being separated from other people or places.
Mission Control (noun): The team that directs and communicates with astronauts during a space mission.
Simulate (verb): To imitate or copy the conditions of something real.
Navigation (noun): Finding and following a path, especially in unfamiliar places.
Preparing for space exploration takes more than rocket launches — it requires realistic training on Earth. Scientists have built special environments that mimic space conditions, helping astronauts practice survival skills and test equipment.
HI-SEAS, Big Island, Hawaii, USA
In Hawaii, the HI-SEAS habitat sits on the rocky slopes of a volcano. It looks and feels like Mars. Astronauts spend months inside, wearing spacesuits and practicing isolation. They even experience communication delays with mission control, just as they would on Mars.
NEEMO, Key Largo, Florida, USA
In Florida, NASA runs the NEEMO project, where astronauts live underwater for days. They practice moving in low gravity, simulating spacewalks. The cramped underwater habitat also helps them adjust to living in small spaces.
C-Space Project, Gobi Desert, China
Meanwhile, in China’s Gobi Desert, the C-Space Project offers a Mars-like base with mock airlocks and control rooms. Though it currently hosts tourists and students, it may soon become a real astronaut training center.
Pangaea-X, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
In Lanzarote, Spain, astronauts practice geology skills during the Pangaea-X program. The island’s volcanic rocks resemble those on Mars, making it a perfect place to learn how to collect and study samples.
ARADS, Atacama Desert, Chile
NASA also heads to Chile’s Atacama Desert with the ARADS project. The dry, rocky desert is similar to Mars, and scientists test rovers that drill for signs of life.
CAVES project, Sardinia, Italy
Finally, the CAVES project in Sardinia, Italy, trains astronauts in cave systems. They spend six days underground, practicing teamwork and navigation in total darkness—a test of mental strength they’ll need in space.
© Rob Banino / Our Media
Isolation (noun): Being separated from other people or places.
Mission Control (noun): The team that directs and communicates with astronauts during a space mission.
Simulate (verb): To imitate or copy the conditions of something real.
Navigation (noun): Finding and following a path, especially in unfamiliar places.