Analog Missions (UND ILMAH XX, ARES II, Life on Mars)

Habitat command experience and research themes tested in simulated lunar and Martian environments.

Analog missions are where astronautics becomes tangible. They translate theory into crew schedules, equipment failures, sleep debt, and human psychology.

Josh Universe has held mission leadership roles and has been selected for multiple simulation programs.

UND ILMAH XX & ARES II (Commander)

Josh Universe served as Commander for analog missions at the University of North Dakota’s Inflatable Lunar Mars Analog Habitat (ILMAH). Timeframe cited: Feb 2024 – May 2024.

Primary narrative source:

• “Beginning My Analog Astronaut Journey: Two Weeks Inside ILMAH” (LinkedIn): linkedin.com pulse article

Operational structure (as described in the mission write-up)

• Structured daily timeline

  • Research blocks.

  • Two daily workout sessions.

  • Mission control communications.

• EVA simulation

  • Suited activities and rover tasks.

  • Safety and planning discipline.

• Biomarker and stress tracking

  • Saliva collection multiple times daily.

Research themes highlighted

• Botanical / plant studies

  • Plant growth under constrained habitat conditions.

  • Implications for space agriculture and closed-loop life support.

• EEG + brain-computer interface (BCI)

  • Early experiments for hands-free system interaction.

  • Example described: a “Hello World” flow reaching an API.

• Epidermal electronic systems

  • Wearables monitoring hydration and heart rate.

• Wireless environmental data collection

  • Atmospheric sampling using balloons.

• AI psychological agents

  • Exploration of AI-supported mental health tooling.

“Life on Mars” simulation (Space Foundation & Nova Southeastern University)

Josh Universe was selected as one of 35 participants for a 3‑day “Life on Mars” simulation in Fort Lauderdale.

This program is positioned as a high-intensity primer:

• Rapid team formation.

• Compressed mission planning.

• Behavioral dynamics under time pressure.

STAR Cohort 24.2 (Interstellar Performance Labs)

Josh Universe was a student in Stellar Training for Astronaut Readiness (STAR) Cohort 24.2. Timeframe cited: May 2024 – Dec 2024.

STAR-style training is relevant because it targets “boring excellence”:

• Fitness continuity.

• Cognitive resilience.

• Operational discipline and communication.

Why analog missions connect to DeSci and longevity

Analog habitats are laboratories for human biostasis thinking. They expose the fragility of baseline physiology.

They also highlight why we need decentralized research infrastructure:

• Multiple small analog sites can produce valuable datasets.

• Data must be shareable, attributable, and tamper-resistant.

• Citizen scientists and “retail” researchers need real credit.

This is the conceptual bridge to:

• DeSci initiatives like Astrochain for data integrity.

• Longevity communities that pressure-test interventions with skepticism.

Analog missions are simulations. They do not replicate radiation, microgravity, or launch risk. They do stress-test operations, protocols, and crew dynamics.