Patch design: Adriana Talianova
World’s Biggest Analog
The World’s Biggest Analog (WBA) is the world’s first major multihabitat simulation, a simultaneous mission including 16 lunar or Martian habitats on nearly every continent of the globe. The project has several goals: it is a proof of concept for such a large mission; it connects over 200 researchers for a unique opportunity to gather a large body of relevant scientific data, and it enables space-related public outreach in communities around the world.
EUROHAB
Spartan Space and Asclepios joined forces as part of the WBA simulation for a 4-day mission from October 17th to 21st, 2025. Two crews of two analogue astronauts each spent 48 hours (two days and two nights) inside of Spartan Space’s EUROHAB habitat, designed to be a short-term occupancy lunar outpost.
Crew 1
Davide Scalettari
MSc Space Engineering at TU Delft
Nationality: Italian
Age: 25
Role: Commander
Ilyasse Taame
MSc in Avionics at TUM and Ecole Centrale de Lyon
Nationality: Moroccan
Age: 24
Role: Analogue astronaut
Crew 2
Katie Mulry
MSc in Aerospace Engineering, ISAE-SUPAERO
Nationality: American
Age: 24
Role: Commander
Nathan Pili
PhD in Aerospace Palaeomimicry, University of Manchester
Nationality: British, Italian
Age: 24
Role: Analogue astronaut
Scientific Experiments
Buddy Space
Principal Investigator: QBT Sagl. team
This experiment tests the BuddySpace platform, aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a virtual psychological buddy – represented by a conversational avatar – in providing emotional support to subjects under conditions of prolonged isolation, similar to those of a space mission.
The buddy is customised on the basis of psychometric data, individual profiles and
interacts daily with each participant to promote well-being and emotional
regulation.
ERA Emotional Response Analysis
Principal Investigator: Dr. Patrick Stacey
University of East Anglia
The aim of the study is to identify key emotional dynamics within the astronauts’ experience, distinguishing between motivational and hazardous factors, create a conceptual model and offer recommendation for future space missions design to improve the astronauts’ mental health.
INDEX (INtuition and DEliberation in eXtreme environments)
Principal Investigator: Pierpaolo Zivi
Sapienza University of Roma
The research examines changes in cognitive representations and knowledge used in individual decision making. Core crewmembers are compared to backup crewmembers across pre-, during-, and post-mission phases. The findings will contribute to developing countermeasures for space missions and other high-stress environments, as well as public outreach initiatives.
The main objective is to investigate whether and how individuals’ knowledge and representations of a decision problem change during isolation.
MARSCRAFT – Job and home crafting on Mars
Principal Investigator: Vera Hagemann
University of Bremen
This project aims to investigate the daily use of job, home, and team crafting behaviors and their relationship with astronaut health and well-being. Specifically, it examines how sustainable crafting behaviors can mitigate exhaustion, a critical factor for astronaut health. Furthermore, improved performance and engagement through crafting can reduce errors and enhance team safety. By understanding the link between crafting and well-being, this study seeks to promote effective interventions, such as brief activities, that foster crafting behaviors. This could empower astronauts to integrate their skills and needs into their work and living environment, ultimately contributing to the success of Mars missions by enhancing their mental health, well-being, and performance in response to high autonomy.
No Longer Earthlings
Principal Investigator: Michael Murphy
University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Using creative methods such as journaling and photography, this study delves into the transformation of identity that astronauts experience during space missions. It asks: how does one redefine the “self” when disconnected from Earth?
SSAE Salutogenesis in Space Analog Environments
Principal Investigator: Dr. Laura Thomas
PARSEC SPACE
The research aims to explore the positive psychological effects experienced by individuals in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments, such as space analog missions. The study contributes to the growing body of work on salutogenesis, which focuses on factors that promote well-being rather than simply mitigating stress.
Our Missions
Asclepios VI
After five successful missions, Asclepios is returning to Sasso San Gottardo with ten analogue astronauts from around the world to execute its sixth mission. They will be spending over 2 weeks in isolation with the Mission Control Centre to oversee the entire operation. Not only will the mission bring exciting new features, including crew rotations, Asclepios VI also brought forward a new association structure for a successful mission.
WBA Eurohab
The World’s Biggest Analog (WBA) is the world’s first major multihabitat simulation, a simultaneous mission including 16 lunar or Martian habitats on nearly every continent of the globe. The project has several goals: it is a proof of concept for such a large mission; it connects over 200 researchers for a unique opportunity to gather a large body of relevant scientific data, and it enables space-related public outreach in communities around the world.
Asclepios V
After four successful missions, Asclepios launched its fifth mission. Nine analog astronauts from around the world have been selected to become the Iris crew and spent up to sixteen days in isolation in the Sasso San Gottardo fortress. The mission brought exciting new features, including crew rotations and a rocket room to simulate the journey to the Moon!
Asclepios IV
The analog mission Asclepios IV, launched in Summer 2024, was a lunar base simulation. The astronauts were students that went through extensive training to master the successful execution of the selected projects and experiments. Upon successful completion of the trainings, six astronauts spent two weeks isolated inside a simulated lunar base, in Switzerland, and took part in extravehicular activities (EVAs).
Asclepios III
Asclepios III, our third analogue mission, was set in a Lunar South Pole environment. A crew of international analogue astronauts were placed in isolation and carried out experiments and EVAs to explore the challenges of space medicine. The mission itself took place at Sasso San Gottardo, Switzerland.
Asclepios II
Asclepios II, our second analogue mission, was set in a Lunar South Pole environment. A crew of international analogue astronauts were placed in isolation in the swiss alps and carried out experiments and EVAs focused on robotics, microbiology, and astronaut’s physical and mental health. The mission itself took place at Sasso San Gottardo, Switzerland.
Asclepios I
As the first mission of the Asclepios project, Asclepios I laid the foundation on which the following missions will be built. It served to accomplish the project’s goals as it demonstrated the viability of student led analogue missions. This mission served the purpose of testing the structure chosen for an Asclepios analogue mission but also the project structure itself. It was also oriented towards an ecological and sustainable approach. This was underlined by multiple choices ranging from alimentation to the construction of base structures.