Being confined to the same few rooms for months on end and interacting with the same few people would drive most into a stupor, especially if one needs protection to leave the house. For many of us, these conditions have become a reality facing the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Now, with that context, imagine if you were instead experiencing restrictions of zero physical contact with the outside air – having to wear a full astronaut suit to go outside –  and living next to a dormant volcano.

This became an altered reality for Kate Greene, a science writer and poet, in 2013 when she participated in the first Hawaii Space Exploration and Analog Simulation (HI-SEAS), orchestrated by NASA, the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Cornell University. She joined Anna Leahy, director of Chapman's Masters of Fine Arts program in Creative Writing and Doug Dechow, Chapman's Engineering, Science and Digital Humanities librarian, on Nov. 18 to discuss her experiences in the four month-mission and her subsequent book, “Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars.”

Greene, along with five other participants, was confined to a dome the size of a two-bedroom apartment for 120 days. The group simulated in real life what it would be like to live on Mars, conducting and participating in research related to the culinary and psychological implications of long-term isolation. Their contact with the outside world was limited, they were restricted to using the resources they entered with and they had to put on astronaut suits to leave the dome.

“It was really an uncomfortable environment. It was designed that way so you’re always adjusting and being aware of your body in space,” Greene said. “When your world shrinks – like it has during this pandemic – it becomes a real challenge.”

Greene told approximately 25 event attendants Nov. 18 that she had childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut, which was fulfilled by simply imagining herself on the mission. In her role as the crew writer, she attempted to blend her passions for science and writing. 

“I mostly followed my interest about things I want to learn,” Greene said. “When I was younger, I was very invested in understanding the invisible realms of atoms, electrons, neutrons, protons and photons. I wanted to be in that world and understand the stuff that makes up all of us.”  

Greene was allowed to bring a small box of books, regardless of the fact that the weight restrictions of a real Mars mission would not allow such items. She claimed her days were spent in meetings, working out, completing chores and conducting and participating in experiments,   with the occasional movie night on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

“You’re just living,” Greene said. “That’s the funny thing about space. Everything thinks it’s quite exotic, but there’s a lot of chores and stuff you have to do. It’s not just fun and games.”

Greene’s background as an essayist in the realm of science journalism allowed her to write pieces during the mission relating to the topics of isolation, correspondence, deep time and deep space, all of which can be found in “Once Upon a Time, I Lived on Mars.”

“I kept returning again and again to the same ideas in conversations; to stop talking about those things, I had to write them down,” Greene said. “With many of these essays, I had collected a lot of information around the topic, and I would read about it, think about it, sit down and shoot from the hip. I trusted the instinct there.” 

Greene mentioned she’s kept in touch with many of her fellow crew members following the project. But while she’d love to go on a two week trip to the moon in the future, she said she would rather not brave a real mission to Mars. 

“One time pretending to live on Mars is fine,” Green said. “If you would have asked me 10 years ago, I’d have a different answer, but (now) I know about the challenges. I also think Earth is really great.”