HOUSTON, Texas — Space Center Houston said its new facility will help NASA astronauts get ready to return to the moon and eventually travel to Mars.
The high-tech facility will simulate conditions on both surfaces and you'll be able to watch the astronauts in action.
NASA is no stranger to setting lofty goals, and now, they’re working on some new ones.
Under its new Artemis program, NASA is hoping to first, establish a long-term presence on the moon, and second, eventually send humans to Mars.
“It takes about 3 days to get to the moon and 3 days to get back if something goes awry. In the case of Mars, as you learn in this exhibit, with current technology, it takes about 8 months to get there," President & CEO of Space Center Houston William T. Harris said.
But before that happens, a lot needs to be learned. That classroom will be one like our planet has never seen before.
“We have to be really well prepared and be able to anticipate all of the challenges that humans may encounter, as many as we can," Harris said.
Dubbed the 'Lunar Mars Facility,' 12 acres near Space Center Houston will soon house a new training site. Five of those acres will be from outer space.
Half of that will replicate the surface of the moon, while the other half will simulate the surface of Mars.
“And test space suits and rovers and tools and things that are going to be needed to enable the success of those missions," Harris said.
Of course, being on Earth, there’s only so much you can simulate. But, they’ll try to recreate everything from the soil to the gravity.
“You could create 1/6 gravity of the moon or 3/8 gravity of the planet Mars," Harris said.
And unfortunately, it’s mostly for research, but while you may not be able to walk on the moon or Mars, you can watch the astronauts from above.
“There will be large windows so you can look down and actually see and understand the research that is happening," Harris said.
The facility will also have over 100 research labs and dedicated STEM learning centers, hoping not only to educate but to inspire.
“We’re doing everything we can to motivate youth to learn in general and in life and try to encourage them to pursue a STEM pathway career," Harris said.
Space Center Houston hopes to break ground on the project by this summer and open the facility by December 2024.