A rocky field near a Hawaiian volcano is the closest humans have come to living on Mars — but the research they're doing there could help future astronauts on the first manned journey to the Red Planet, currently scheduled for 2025. In order to make the study realistic and productive, the scientists in Hawaii need to live like they're actually on Mars, a simulation they've committed to for an entire year.
But life on "Mars" isn't for wimps: The six researchers occupy a 1,000-square-foot domed structure, wear mock spacesuits whenever they leave the building, eat shelf-stable food and, perhaps worst of all, have to deal with Mars' super slow internet connection:
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