The crew of a NASA mission to Mars emerged from their craft after a yearlong voyage that never left Earth.
The four volunteer crew members spent more than 12 months inside NASA’s first simulated Mars environment at Johnson Space Center in Houston, coming out of the artificial alien enviroment Saturday around 5 p.m.
Kelly Haston, Anca Selariu, Ross Brockwell and Nathan Jones entered the 3D-printed habitat on June 25, 2023, as the maiden crew of the space agency’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog project.
Haston, the mission commander, began with a simple, “Hello.”
“It’s actually just so wonderful to be able to say ‘hello’ to you all,” she said.
Jones, a physician and the mission medical officer, said their 378 days in confinement “went by quickly.”
The quartet lived and worked inside the space of 17,000 square feet (1,579 square meters) to simulate a mission to the red planet, the fourth from the sun and a frequent focus of discussion among scientists and sci-fi fans alike concerning a possible voyage taking humans beyond our moon.
The first CHAPEA crew focused on establishing possible conditions for future Mars operations through simulated spacewalks, dubbed “Marswalks,” as well as growing and harvesting vegetables to supplement their provisions and maintaining the habitat and their equipment.
They also worked through challenges a real Mars crew would be expected to experience including limited resources, isolation and delays in communication of up to 22 minutes with their home planet on the other side of the habitat’s walls, NASA said.
Two additional CHAPEA missions are planned and crews will continue conducting simulated spacewalks and gathering data on factors related to physical and behavioral health and performance, NASA said.
Steve Koerner, deputy director of Johnson Space Center, said most of the first crew’s experimentation focused on nutrition and how that affected their performance. The work was “crucial science as we prepare to send people on to the red planet,” he said.
“They’ve been separated from their families, placed on a carefully prescribed meal plan and undergone a lot of observation,” Koerner said.
“Mars is our goal,” he said, calling the project an important step in America’s intent to be a leader in the global space exploration effort.
Emerging after a knock on the habitat’s door by Kjell Lindgren, an astronaut and the deputy director of flight operations, the four volunteers spoke of the gratitude they had for each other and those who waited patiently outside, as well as lessons learned about a prospective manned mission to Mars and life on Earth.
Brockwell, the crew’s flight engineer, said the mission showed him the importance of living sustainably for the benefit of everyone on Earth.
“I’m very grateful to have had this incredible opportunity to live for a year within the spirit of planetary adventure toward an exciting future, and I’m grateful for the chance to live the idea that we must utilize resources no faster than they can be replenished and produce waste no faster than they can be processed back into resources,” Brockwell said.
“We cannot live, dream, create or explore on any significant timeframe if we don’t live these principles, but if we do, we can achieve and sustain amazing and inspiring things like exploring other worlds,” he said.
Science officer Anca Selariu said she had been asked many times why there is a fixation on Mars.
“Why go to Mars? Because it’s possible,” she said. “Because space can unite and bring out the best in us. Because it’s one defining step that ‘Earthlings’ will take to light the way into the next centuries.”
Crew of NASA’s earthbound simulated Mars habitat emerge after a year
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Crew of NASA’s earthbound simulated Mars habitat emerge after a year
- The crew in the first of three planned CHAPEA missions focused on establishing possible conditions for future Mars operations through simulated spacewalks
Netanyahu says ‘shame’ on Macron for urging halt to arms supply to Israel
- Netanyahu said Israel was fighting a war on several fronts against groups backed by arch-foe Iran
JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday slammed French President Emmanuel Macron for calling for a halt to arms supplies to Israel, which is fighting wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
“As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should be standing firmly by Israel’s side. Yet, President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for arms embargoes against Israel. Shame on them,” Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office.
Netanyahu said Israel was fighting a war on several fronts against groups backed by arch-foe Iran.
“Is Iran imposing an arms embargo on Hezbollah, on the Houthis, on Hamas and on its other proxies? Of course not,” he said. All three groups are backed by Tehran and form part of its “axis of resistance” against Israel.
“This axis of terror stands together. But countries who supposedly oppose this terror axis call for an arms embargo on Israel. What a disgrace!“
Netanyahu said Israel would win even without their support.
“But their shame will continue long after the war is won,” he said.
“Rest assured, Israel will fight until the battle is won — for our sake and for the sake of peace and security in the world.”
Where We Are Going Today: Cleaver Burger in Riyadh
- The brisket croquette and meat cheese finger are great side dishes, each offering a burst of savory meaty richness
Cleaver Burger has become a popular destination in Riyadh’s fast-growing burger scene, for both casual diners and enthusiasts alike.
With three branches across the city, the restaurant delivers reasonably priced high-quality meals, making it an accessible option for anyone craving a satisfying bite.
My visit to Cleaver Burger left me thoroughly impressed — particularly with its eponymous signature dish, which features a juicy, tender wagyu beef patty that stands out for its rich, full flavor. The perfectly toasted bun, caramelized onions, melted cheese, and special house sauce create an ideal balance of flavors, making every bite an indulgence in savory goodness.
In addition to the Cleaver Burger, I tried the steak sandwich, chicken burger, and truffle burger. While the steak sandwich and chicken burger were solid, the truffle burger offered a more adventurous option — perfect for those who enjoy bold, earthy flavors.
The brisket croquette and meat cheese finger are great side dishes, each offering a burst of savory meaty richness.
The real surprise, however, came in the form of Cleaver Burger’s fries. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and perfectly seasoned, they easily rank among the best fries I’ve had in Riyadh. Whether you enjoy them alongside your burger or as a standalone snack, they are a must-try.
With its consistent quality, flavorful dishes, and affordable prices, Cleaver Burger is a top pick for anyone looking for a great burger in the Kingdom’s capital.
Gaza journalist, her family among 12 killed in Israeli strikes
- Macron urges halt to arms deliveries to Israel, stresses ‘political solution’ to conflict
CAIRO/PARIS: Israeli airstrikes pounded areas across the Gaza Strip on Monday killing 12, including a journalist and her family, medics said, although the intensity of the ground offensive has subsided as Israel steps up its fight with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Palestinian health officials said Wafa Al-Udaini, who wrote articles about the war in English advocating the Palestinian viewpoint, was killed when a missile struck her house in the central city of Deir Al-Balah, also killing her husband and their two children. Udaini’s death raised the number of Palestinian journalists killed in the Israeli offensive since Oct. 7 to 174, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said.
In another strike, a Palestinian was killed and several were wounded in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, while in the northern town of Beit Hanoun an airstrike killed one man and injured others, medics said.
FASTFACT
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi renewed his call for ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon as he held talks with his country’s Syrian ally.
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Nuseirat, one of Gaza Strip’s eight historic refugee camps, killed six people, health officials said.
Some residents said fighting and Israeli military activities in Gaza have declined slightly in the past week as Israel has escalated its military offensive in Lebanon.
While the intensity of the ground offensive has been lower, Israel has kept up its airstrikes in the enclave, they added.
Most of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has been displaced by the war, in which more than 41,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health authorities.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged a halt to arms deliveries to Israel, which has been criticized over the conduct of its retaliatory operation in Gaza.
“I think that today, the priority is that we return to a political solution, that we stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza,” Macron told broadcaster France Inter.
“France is not delivering any,” he added during the interview recorded early this week.
The US provides about $3 billion in weapons to Israel each year.
In May, the State Department said it did not have enough evidence to block shipments of weapons but that it was “reasonable to assess” that Israel has used arms in ways inconsistent with standards of humanitarian law.
In September, Britain said it was suspending some arms exports to Israel, citing a “clear risk” that they could be used in a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
Macron reiterated his concern over the conflict in Gaza that is continuing despite repeated calls for a ceasefire.
“I think we are not being heard,” he said. “I think it is a mistake, including for the security of Israel,” he said, adding that the conflict was leading to “hatred.”
Macron also said avoiding an escalation in Lebanon was a “priority.”
“Lebanon cannot become a new Gaza,” he added.
Al-Hilal come from behind in dramatic win over Al-Ahli to stay top of Saudi Pro League
- Going into the game, Al-Hilal had won 38 and drawn three of their previous 41 league games
JEDDAH: Al-Hilal came back from a goal down to defeat Al-Ahli 2-1 on a dramatic Saturday evening in Jeddah to maintain their perfect record at the top of the Saudi Pro League. Two goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic at a packed King Abdullah Sport City made it six wins from six for last season's champions and this season's leaders.
Going into the game, Al-Hilal had won 38 and drawn three of their previous 41 league games, a quite staggering statistic. No wonder then that in the week, coach Jorge Jesus had said that his team would be competitive in any of the big leagues in Europe. On this showing, few would disagree.
Yet, inspired perhaps by an electric atmosphere, Al-Ahli took the lead after 12 minutes. Firas Al-Buraikan was in the centre circle and chipped a simple pass over the top for the sprinting Gabri Veiga. The Spaniard, just onside by a whisker, outpaced the chasing defenders into the right-side of the area, ran past Yassine Bounou and then fired into the empty net to the dismay of the blue-shirted fans behind the goal. They did not feel any better when the former Celta Vigo man then held out his arms in the style of Jude Bellingham and then put his fingers to his lips
It seemed to wake Hilal up. After 20 minutes Renan Lodi curled a delightful ball into the area. Aleksandar Mitrovic got there before Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, in goal for the injured Edouard Mendy, but Merih Demiral managed to get back to hook the ball clear off the line. Soon after, Mitrovic fired just wide from the edge of the area.
It seemed to be third time lucky for the Serbian sharpshooter two minutes before the break. Joao Cancelo floated over the perfect cross from the right and there was no way that Mitrovic was going to waste such an invitation and he headed firmly into the net. His eighth goal of the season was, however, ruled out for offside.
After the break, the Blues continued to push for the equaliser and didn’t have to wait too long. It was Mitrovic again and it was an excellent Lodi cross again. The Brazilian found the former Fulham forward on the edge of the six yard box and there was only going to be one outcome. It was the 69th successive game in which Al-Hilal have scored --a phenomenal record.
There was almost another on the hour as Al-Sanbi had to dive smartly to push away a Ruben Neves free-kick that was destined for the back of the net. And then, somehow, a few minutes later, Hilal were denied again. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s shot from inside the area was blocked on the line, then Al-Sanbi got down very well to keep out Salem Al-Dawsari’s attempt from the rebound.
Al-Hilal were turning the screw and got their big chance with 18 minutes remaining as Rayan Hamed brought down Malcom in the area. Mitrovic stepped up to take the spot kick but Al-Sanbi guessed right and made another fine diving save. Unfortunately for the home fans, and perhaps all those hoping to see Al-Hilal drop points, the ‘keeper had come off his line to make the save and a retake was ordered. Mitrovic made no mistake at the second time of asking.
The hosts did their utmost to get an equalizer but were unable to do so - Riyad Mahrez came close with a shot that went just wide in the 95th minute - and have now lost three of their first six games. Al-Hilal moved three points clear of Al-Ittihad in second while Al-Nassr are in third thanks to a comfortable 3-0 disposal of Al-Orubah.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring after 17 minutes, firing home from the spot after a handball in the area to record his fifth league goal of the season. The Portuguese megastar then turned provider 12 minutes later with a smart pass from the left into the feet of the incoming Sadio Mane who then took one touch and then fired a low shot into the far corner.
Mane grabbed his second to seal the win, not that it was really in doubt, with a side footed volley 19 minutes from time that was originally ruled out for offside before VAR intervened.
Frankly Speaking: Fareed Zakaria on Israel, Gaza and the region post-Oct. 7
- No matter which presidential candidate wins, they will have limited ability to influence Israel, says renowned journalist and author
- Says the world may have overestimated Hezbollah’s fighting capacity and Iran’s ability to mount a meaningful response
RIYADH: No matter who becomes the next US president, they will have very little ability to rein in Israeli excesses in Gaza, Lebanon, and the wider Middle East, CNN journalist, author and political analyst Fareed Zakaria has said.
Although Democratic Party nominee Kamala Harris may be willing to adjust the Biden administration’s stance on Gaza if she is elected, Zakaria believes the nature of US politics will leave her hands effectively tied.
“I doubt you’re going to see much reining in that the American president is able to do,” Zakaria said on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking” during a visit to Saudi Arabia for the Riyadh International Book Fair, where he was promoting his latest book, “Age of Revolutions.”
The Indian-born American journalist is the host of CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS and writes a weekly column for The Washington Post. A prolific author, Zakaria has a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University where he studied under such famous scholars as Samuel P. Huntington and Stanley Hoffmann.
The American political model made it difficult for Washington to take a firmer line on Israel, he told “Frankly Speaking” host Katie Jensen.
“There will be a bit on the margins,” Zakaria said. “I suspect a Democratic administration would be able to restrain them a little more.”
He added: “Even if Congress can pass laws, Israel probably has strong enough support that they could even override a presidential veto in some circumstances.”
By contrast, Zakaria believes the one person who could rein in Israel is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, because Israel is eager to normalize ties with Saudi Arabia.
Zakaria told “Frankly Speaking” host Katie Jensen that Israel seems to have decided to take this opportunity and try to do something much more dramatic to turn the tables on this “Axis of Resistance.” (AN photo)
Saudi Arabia has conditioned normalization on Israel offering tangible progress on the question of Palestinian statehood and the Arab Peace Initiative first proposed by Riyadh in 2002.
“Israel wants a normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia,” said Zakaria. “If you look around the Arab world, even if you look at the US, the person with the most leverage in that sense is Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia.
“In return for normalization, he has the opportunity to ask for something, but it has to be something you could imagine an Israeli government accepting. So that’s going to be a very complicated dance.”
Forced to take a hardline stance by his right-wing coalition, Zakaria says, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in no position to pursue normalization in exchange for implementing the peace plan.
“Right now, my sense is, Bibi Netanyahu is less concerned about Saudi normalization, because he realizes that anything he says that puts him on the path toward granting the Palestinians political rights, statehood, whatever, will be too much for his coalition partners that include a few very, very extreme Israeli nationalists who believe in essentially no Palestinian state, ever,” he said.
“He knows that if he goes even half a step toward that, he loses his government. So maybe that’s why he’s decided I’m going to go forward and deal with Hezbollah in a much more aggressive way because I can’t do the Saudi normalization deal anyway.”
With public opinion in Israel swinging against the two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict — especially since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7 — the chances of advancing any peace plan seem more remote than ever.
However, as Zakaria put in the form of a rhetorical question, what alternative is there to the “intolerable situation” that Israel finds itself in?
“Let’s be honest, Israel has changed,” he said. “It is much more right wing now. The Knesset had a vote on the two-state solution. I think only eight members of Israel’s parliament voted in favor of a two-state solution. I think it was 68 who voted against. So you’re in a very difficult place in Israel if you want a two-state solution.
“But what I come back to is, what is the solution that people in Israel have for the problem of the Palestinian people? Ehud Olmert, former Likud prime minister, so a right-wing prime minister, said very eloquently on my television program, look, there’s 6 million Palestinians in Israel who don’t have any political rights. How can Israel as a democracy continue like that?
“At some point, there has to be some resolution to that. And the only resolution, he was arguing, that makes any sense, that is compatible with the idea of Israel as a democracy, would be to give the Palestinians a state.
“And when you talk to people who are opponents of the two-state solution, they fudge and obfuscate and meander. They don’t actually ever answer that question centrally because what they are accepting is a completely intolerable situation, which is, you know, two classes of citizens, you know, with the Palestinians not even really being citizens.
“They are citizens of nowhere. They don’t have political rights. And that surely can’t continue unendingly, but it is. We are in the 56th year of that circumstance, that occupation.”
Zakaria said he sympathizes with the Palestinian people, but believes they have been let down by both Hamas in Gaza and the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
“I think they’ve been led by a series of leaders who in the case of Hamas really have adopted a kind of terrorist mentality where it’s okay to kill women, children, civilians,” he said.
“On the other side, you have the Palestinian Authority that is so corrupt and ineffective that Abu Mazen, Mahmoud Abbas, cannot hold elections for fear of the fact that of course he will be voted out of office by an enraged Palestinian population.
“In addition to that, they missed many negotiating opportunities along the way. I do think they’ve been badly served.”
Following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack, Israel launched its retaliatory operation in Gaza. However, in solidarity with its Hamas allies, Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah began rocketing Israel from the north, opening up a second front.
What began as a relatively contained exchange of fire along the Israel-Lebanon border suddenly escalated in September, with Israel attacking Hezbollah’s communication networks, weapons caches, and its leadership, culminating in the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah on Sept. 27.
Iran retaliated for the killing of Nasrallah by launching a massive barrage of missiles at military targets in Israel on Oct. 1. The Iranian attack caused minimal damage, however, and appeared to be designed to send a message of deterrence rather than start an inter-state war.
But what stands out from this escalation over the past month is the surprising ease with which Israel was able to defang Hezbollah and the apparent inability of Iran to muster a meaningful defense or retort.
“It’s really extraordinary, first, just to note how well Israeli intelligence was able to penetrate Hezbollah,” said Zakaria. “The pagers, the locations of the weapons caches, and of course the locations of the leadership, including Nasrallah.
“What that tells me is that Hezbollah, which was often viewed as this fearsome fighting force, had also become fat, corrupt, an organization that lived off of all kinds of corruption and arms deals and patronage from Iran, and so was more easily penetrated than one might have imagined. Israel really has destroyed a very large part of it.”
Sharing his impressions following his recent interview with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on CNN, Zakaria suggested that many in the West may have also overestimated Tehran’s capabilities.
“The Iranian president not only essentially said this was up to Hezbollah — and by the way, I don’t see how Hezbollah could really mount a defense; Israel is so much more powerful, its weapons are so much more powerful, and it’s supported by the US — he also implied that Iran did not have the capacity,” said Zakaria.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 24, 2024. (AFP)
“He said, essentially, we should call a meeting of Islamic countries to condemn what Israel is doing. That’s not a particularly lethal response that you’d imagine, and very different from his predecessors.
“I had interviewed his predecessor, President Ebrahim Raisi, only a year ago, I think. And he had a very different, much more militant, much more hardline view, and would never have expressed openly the idea that Hezbollah didn’t actually have that lethal an arsenal. So there’s some shift in Iran that’s interesting.
“You never know how much power the president has but I think that what we are seeing both with Hezbollah and with Iran is that perhaps we have painted them to be 10 feet tall when they were really, you know, more like 5 feet tall.”
Throughout the crisis in Gaza, and now in Lebanon and between Israel and Iran, the Biden administration has been at pains to prevent a slide into all-out regional war, while also maintaining staunch support for Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself.
With Americans going to the polls in November to decide whether Vice President Harris or former President Trump will form the next administration, can the Middle East expect a meaningful change of course on support for Israel? Zakaria is not so sure.
“It’s going to be very hard for either of them to do it because Bibi Netanyahu knows one country almost as well as he knows Israel, and that is the US,” he said. “And he knows how to play the American political system to his advantage.”
So, who does Zakaria expect to win the election? And does he have a preferred candidate?
“Look, anyone who tells you they know who’s gonna win is, I think, wildly exaggerating their powers of wisdom. It is essentially a statistical tie … so it would be foolhardy for me to make a prediction about who’s gonna win. I try not to approach this with the idea that I’m rooting for a team, but I’ll tell you my central concern as somebody who focuses on international affairs.”
He added: “I’m not that partisan. If Trump came in and did some good things, I'd cheer him on. When he did, I cheered him on. So, I try to approach this from the perspective of somebody who is looking at the issues and not at the horse race and who I should bet on.”
