Dr. Piyumi Wijesekera, a scientist of Sri Lankan descent, has been chosen by NASA to join a four-member volunteer crew for a simulated Mars mission at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Scheduled to commence on 10th of May, the team, including Dr. Wijesekera, will enter the Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) for this mission. Over approximately 45 days, they will undergo simulations replicating the conditions of a Mars mission, with their return to Earth slated for 24th of June.
NASA conducts such research missions to study how crew members adapt to isolation, confinement, and remote conditions before sending astronauts on deep space missions to destinations like the Moon and Mars.
During the simulated mission, crew members will utilize virtual reality to perform scientific research and operational tasks, including activities mimicking those undertaken on the surface of Mars.
Dr. Piyumi Wijesekera, currently serving as a postdoctoral research scientist at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, specializes in developing tissue models to investigate the impact of spaceflight stresses on the human respiratory system. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in biomedical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her doctoral research focused on stem cell and organ engineering, particularly in generating engineered lung models for studying respiratory diseases.
Residing in San Francisco, Dr. Wijesekera brings a wealth of expertise and experience to this pioneering endeavor, marking a significant milestone for Sri Lankan representation in space exploration.
