The SOLIS100 experiment at DLR in Cologne concluded after six international crew members spent 100 days in an artificially lit, confined habitat to simulate long-duration space missions. Conducted for ESA, the study assessed physical, cognitive and behavioural responses to extended isolation. The full project lasted 126 days, including preparation and a one-week follow-up after the crew exited on August 1. Researchers will now analyse the dataset to guide future crew support for Moon and Mars missions.
Six-Person International Crew Completes 100-Day Isolation Trial to Prepare for Moon and Mars Missions
FILE PHOTO: The waxing Moon rises behind people close to the summit of Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. (is associated with: «International 'crew' ends 100-day isolation study for space missions») Jane Barlow/PA Wire/dpa
Six men and women from six countries have completed a 100-day isolation experiment designed to simulate the physical and psychological constraints of long-duration spaceflight. The SOLIS100 crew left the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) simulation habitat in Cologne after a final recovery phase and have returned to their normal routines.
Study Purpose and Setting
Conducted on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), the SOLIS100 study examined how extended confinement, lack of natural light and limited resources affect health, performance and behaviour. The experiment took place in a purpose-built facility that enables controlled research on extreme environmental conditions.
What the Crew Experienced
Participants from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal spent more than three months in a cramped, artificially lit habitat with no natural sunlight. They subsisted on limited supplies, primarily non-perishable food, and had no in-person contact with family or friends. Communications with mission support were handled mainly via an intercom system.
The daily schedule combined scientific tasks, regular medical data collection, a disciplined exercise programme and routine habitat maintenance. These elements were designed to mirror the demands astronauts will face on missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
Anke Pagels-Kerp, DLR Division Director: Such controlled isolation studies are essential to prepare astronauts for the psychological and physical challenges of future deep-space missions.
Amelie Therre, Project Leader: The SOLIS100 project aims to standardise data collection so crew support measures can be compared and improved across future studies.
Timeline and Next Steps
The complete project spanned 126 days, including preparation and a one-week follow-up phase after the crew exited the habitat on August 1. During that follow-up week, researchers gathered additional physical and cognitive data to capture short-term recovery and readjustment dynamics.
With the participants now back in daily life, the study team will begin analysing the comprehensive dataset collected before, during and after isolation. Findings will inform medical protocols, psychological support and operational planning for upcoming lunar and Mars missions.
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