Inaugural Mission | Dec 2026 | Jules Undersea Habitat

Advancing Aquanautics Training to Enable Human Spaceflight and Exploration

Mission Overview

MMAARS–NAUTILUS OPS Crew 001 represents the inaugural deployment of a next-generation analog aquanaut mission designed to advance human performance, scientific discovery, and technology validation in extreme environments. Scheduled for December 2026 at Jules’ Undersea Lodge, the mission operates within a high-fidelity underwater habitat to simulate isolated, confined, and extreme (I.C.E.E.) conditions analogous to long-duration spaceflight and planetary habitation.

The mission is commanded by Dr. Joseph Dituri, PhD “Dr. DeepSea“, a former U.S. Navy diver and recognized expert in hyperbaric medicine and extreme environment operations. Dr. Dituri is internationally known for his pioneering work in long-duration underwater habitation, including achieving a Guinness World Record for the longest continuous time living underwater. His experience provides critical insight into human physiological and psychological adaptation under hyperbaric conditions, informing mission safety, operational protocols, and long-duration habitation strategies.

Serving as Executive Officer and Human Factors Officer, Dame Emmy Jewell, MSc, PhDc, Co-Founder of MMAARS and AvatarMEDIC, is a commercial pilot with experience in Learjet and medevac operations, and a leader in analog astronautics training and human performance research. Her expertise spans mission operations, crew dynamics, aerospace systems, and the integration of frontier technologies within high-fidelity analog environments. She plays a central role in coordinating crew performance, safety, and multidisciplinary mission execution.

Together, the leadership team directs a multidisciplinary crew of veteran MMAARS analog astronauts, physician-scientists, aviators, engineers, and human performance specialists—reflecting the integrated expertise required for future exploration missions across ocean, air, land, and space.

MMAARS-NAUTILUS OPS Crew 001 integrates advanced research across AI-driven behavioral health systems, multi-omics profiling, digital twin pharmacokinetics, and ocean science, alongside dedicated astronaut health and wellness studies focused on sleep, circadian rhythm regulation, and recovery. These investigations examine the impact of isolated, confined, and extreme (I.C.E.E.) environments on cognitive performance, physiological resilience, and behavioral health, serving as a live testbed for validating next-generation technologies, operational protocols, and medical countermeasures that support human performance and long-duration mission readiness.

By bridging ocean exploration with spaceflight systems, the pioneering series of MMAARS–NAUTILUS OPS missions establishes a scalable, multi-fidelity mission framework for future deployments that will contribute to the advancement of Lunar, Martian explorations and settlements, and further expand the vision of future deep-sea habitations, while supporting the stewardship and preservation of Earth’s ocean ecosystems.

Mission Research & Technology Demonstrations

MMAARS-NAUTILUS OPS Crew 001 conducts a series of integrated, high-impact research and technology demonstration initiatives designed to advance human performance, health, and operational capability in extreme environments. These efforts combine artificial intelligence, multi-omics, space pharmacology, ocean science, and extreme environment medicine within a unified mission framework, with dedicated platforms, datasets, and expanded outputs accessible through linked project pages and publications.

Research Page

Crew Mission Leadership Team

Building on the mission leadership outlined above, Crew 001 is composed of a multidisciplinary team of highly trained MMAARS analog astronauts and subject matter experts operating within isolated, confined, and extreme (I.C.E.E.) environments. The crew integrates expertise across space medicine, hyperbaric and dive operations, aerospace systems, engineering, human performance, and frontier technologies to support mission execution, scientific research, and AI-human systems integration. Each crew member is assigned defined operational roles aligned with mission objectives, research protocols, and systems deployment, reflecting the structure and coordination required for future spaceflight and extreme environment missions.

Crew Mission Leadership

DR. JOSEPH DITURI PHD

CREW COMMANDER, HYPERBARIC & DIVE MEDICINE

Dr. Joseph Dituri, PhD, is a former U.S. Navy diver and internationally recognized expert in hyperbaric and dive medicine, undersea exploration, and extreme environment operations. He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous underwater habitation, advancing research in human physiology, resilience, and performance under pressure. With a distinguished career spanning military service, scientific research, and operational leadership, Dr. Dituri has extensive experience in undersea systems, saturation diving, and long-duration habitation studies. He has led and participated in pioneering missions that integrate biomedical monitoring, environmental stress adaptation, and human performance optimization in isolated and confined environments. As Mission Commander and Hyperbaric and Dive Medicine and Undersea Research Lead for MMAARS–Nautilus Ops, he plays a critical role in ensuring mission safety, operational excellence, and scientific rigor, while supporting the development of high-fidelity aquanautics training and underwater habitat platforms as analogs for future space exploration.

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DAME EMMY JEWELL MSC PHDc DEG

CREW EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HUMAN FACTORS, AVIATION & MISSION OPERATIONS

Dame Emmy Jewell is a commercial pilot (Learjet and medevac) and Co-founder of AvatarMEDIC and Co-Founder of MMAARS (Mars-Moon Astronautics Academy and Research Sciences), with extensive experience leading high-fidelity analog astronaut missions. A veteran analog astronaut, she has served as commander and operational lead on over ten missions in isolated, confined, and extreme (I.C.E.E.) environments. Knighted by the Royal House of Georgia for her humanitarian work, she is also a Humans in Space semi-finalist for research in hypersonic decompression and pilot safety. She is currently completing her PhD in Aviation Management and Human Factors Research. MMAARS Crew2301

Additional Crew Team

DR. STEFAN GREEN PHD

CREW OMICS OFFICER & BIOMETRICS LEAD

Dr. Stefan J. Green is a microbiologist with three decades of scientific experience of collecting and analyzing complex biological data. He currently is a Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Faculty Advisor to the Genomics and Microbiome Core Facility (GMCF) at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC). He has extensive experience in analyzing biological data from extreme environments, including spacecraft assembly facilities, uranium-contaminated subsurface environments, hypersaline ecosystems, and from the International Space Station. Dr. Green will serve as the Crew OMICS and Biometrics Officer for MMAARS Crew 001 and as co-PI on the Analog Astronaut OMICS Library Project (AAOLP). He previously served as Crew Scientific Officer for a UND ILMAH (Inflatable Lunar/Martian Habitat) analog mission. Dr. Green will manage biosample collection and storage protocols, will work with shared resource facilities to process biospecimens (e.g., dried blood spot (DBS)), and will work with bioinformatics teams to analyze data and integrate omics, physiological, and behavioral data to advance precision space medicine and to provide actionable insights for human performance in extreme environments.

DR. JESUS GUERRA MD MSC (Aerospace Medicine)

CREW MEDICAL OFFICER & AGENTIC AI LEAD

Dr. Jesus Guerra is a physician specializing in gerontology, emergency medicine, and aerospace medicine, serving as Crew Medical Officer and Agentic AI Lead for MMAARS Crew 001. He holds a Master’s degree in Aerospace Medicine from Wright State University and is Chief Medical Officer at AvatarMEDIC, where he has contributed to pioneering AR/XR-enabled telemedicine and telerobotic systems. Dr. Guerra plays a key role in the development and deployment of MAGSBHO (Multi-Agentic AI Governance System for Behavioral Health and Operations), integrating AI-driven clinical decision support into high-risk, isolated, confined, and extreme (I.C.E.) environments. As an experienced analog astronaut, he has commanded and led multiple in-person analog missions and was assigned the Chief of the Remote Medical Team overseeing the medical care of the crews in first-of-it-kind MMAARS high-fidelity Mars Medics Training missons deployed to 10, 000 ft and 15,000 ft (Amadablam Basecamp) altitudes in Nepal , Himalayas in 2019. Dr Jesus will ensure operational medical readiness while advancing AI-enabled healthcare solutions for spaceflight and terrestrial extreme environments.
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DAME DR. MARIA HARNEY MD MAc DEG

CREW PSYCHIATRIC & BIOETHICS OFFICER & WELLNESS LEAD

Dame Dr. Maria Harney is a physician-scientist and psychiatrist serving as Crew Psychiatric and Bioethics Officer and Wellness Lead. She specializes in mental health, resilience, and human performance in high-stress and extreme environments. She has participated in 10 analog astronaut missions and contributed to over 20 research initiatives in space medicine, supporting remote medical operations in high-altitude Mars analog settings. Her work focuses on psychiatry, psychophysiology, bioethics, and well-being in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments, to support crew cohesion, decision-making, and sustained performance under stress. Her research integrates clinical practice with emerging technologies, including virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology, to examine and enhance human performance, cognition, and ethical decision-making in austere conditions. She has presented at major international forums, including the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) and AIAA SciTech, Cambridge University, and is a published author. Dr. Harney serves in leadership roles within the Aerospace Medical Association and nonprofit initiatives. She was invested as a Dame of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia in recognition of her humanitarian and charitable work. She is currently completing an MA in Philosophy with a focus on ethics and philosophy of science.

www.mariaharney.com

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DAME DR. TAMARA PACK MD PHD

CREW PSYCHOLOGICAL OFFICER & BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH LEAD

Dame Tamara Pack, MD, PhD, is a distinguished physician-scientist, analog astronaut, entrepreneur, and interdisciplinary researcher recognized for her leadership at the intersection of space medicine, neuroscience, and human performance in extreme environments. She earned her Doctor of Medicine with distinction and her PhD in Psychology with honors, reflecting a foundation of academic excellence that underpins her multidisciplinary work. Her research advances biobehavioral resilience, neurocognitive adaptation, and AI-integrated healthcare systems, with applications spanning long-duration spaceflight and high-risk environments on Earth. She collaborates internationally across aerospace, biomedical, and technology sectors, contributing to the development of next-generation innovations in telemedicine, extended reality (XR), and precision space psychiatry.

Dr. Pack is a pioneering leader whose work is redefining the future of human health at the convergence of medicine, technology, and space exploration. She has architected and advanced novel clinical paradigms and integrated systems that leverage artificial intelligence, tele-avatar medicine, pharmacology, genetic engineering, personalized medicine and multidimensional health data to create predictive, precision-driven models of care for extreme and extraterrestrial environments. As both a scientific innovator and operational leader, she has designed research and implemented next-generation medical protocols within analog astronaut missions, serving in dual roles as Chief Medical Officer and Executive Officer, as well as contributing to remote medical teams while directing mission-critical research on human performance, resilience, and adaptation. Her contributions extend beyond technological innovation to include a deep commitment to mentorship, cultivating the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists and clinicians and to philanthropy, initiating and supporting global humanitarian initiatives that translate into meaningful, real-world impact. Through her work, Dr. Pack is not only advancing the boundaries of science but actively shaping the foundational systems that will define the future of healthcare on Earth and beyond. She is also the Co-Founder of Synthetico, Inc., a biotechnology and advanced systems company focused on pioneering innovations at the intersection of synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and human performance. Through Synthetico, Dr. Pack is advancing the development of next-generation medical technologies and integrated health systems designed to enhance resilience, optimize performance, and expand the capabilities of healthcare in both terrestrial and space environments. In addition to her research and aerospace work, Dr. Pack brings an extensive clinical background and is the founder of a specialized therapeutic practice where she developed a proprietary, trauma-informed methodology integrating neuroscience, behavioral science, and performance optimization. Her multidisciplinary expertise enables her to bridge clinical medicine, advanced technology, and operational leadership, translating complex scientific innovation into real-world applications with global impact.

Her advanced certifications include Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), Certified Grief Counseling Specialist (CGCS), certification in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and EMDR, as well as Advanced Wilderness Medicine and Life Support (AWMLS). She is also a PADI-certified scuba diver with Nitrox certification. Dr. Pack’s contributions have been widely recognized through numerous honors, including the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for over 6,000 hours of service, Excellence and Leadership in Nursing recognition from the International Nurses Association, and Glamour Magazine’s Woman of the Year distinction. She has also been awarded an international knighthood through the Order of the Eagle of Georgia and was nominated for the Earthshot Prize for her work with Synthetico, Inc. Her work and influence have been featured in major media and publications, including Forbes (2024), USA Today (Top Entrepreneurs to Watch 2026), MSN (Top 10 Self-Made Women 2025), and New York Weekly (Top 20 Entrepreneurs 2025). Beyond her technical and scientific work, she is a recognized leader in translational science, humanitarian advocacy, and global health initiatives, bridging cutting-edge research with real-world impact. Her career reflects a unique integration of clinical expertise, scientific innovation, and mission-driven leadership, positioning her at the forefront of shaping the future of human health in space and on Earth.

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Mission Reserve Crew and Remote Mission Support Teams

Mission Reserve Crew and Remote Mission Support Teams offer important continuous remote support and monitoring to the MMAARS analog astronaut crews by ensuring operational continuity, safety, and scientific integrity across all phases, including pre-simulation, in-simulation, and post-simulation activities. Working in coordination with the in-situ crew, this team provides real-time monitoring, mission control support, data oversight, and rapid-response capability in dynamic and isolated, confined, and extreme (I.C.E.E) environments. Together, they form an integrated mission architecture that enhances performance, mitigates risk, and ensures the successful execution of high-fidelity analog missions.

DAME COMMANDER DR. SUSAN JEWELL, MD, DCEG, DOD

MISSION CREW RESERVE & FLIGHT DIRECTOR

Dame Commander Dr. Susan Jewell, MD is a physician-scientist, analog astronaut commander, and a vanguard in the field of analog astronautics, with over a decade of leadership in high-fidelity missions across extreme environments. She is the CEO of VASTX (Virtual Astronaut Simulator for Therapeutics and Exploration) and CEO of AvatarMEDIC, an ANA Avatar XPRIZE semi-finalist advancing AI-enabled telemedicine and remote care in austere environments, and has been recognized with two knighthoods for her humanitarian work and global contributions to health, equity, and space exploration. She has led and commanded more than 35 analog astronaut missions, advancing human performance, space medicine, and the integration of frontier technologies, with training in molecular cancer therapeutics and molecular and translational pharmacology supporting her work at the intersection of precision medicine and space health. As Mission Reserve Crew and Flight Director, she provides mission oversight, operational governance, and rapid-response leadership to ensure continuity in the event of crew substitution, ensuring seamless transition, mission integrity, and adherence to safety-critical protocols under dynamic and high-risk conditions while leading the integration of advanced mission systems, including AI governance frameworks, multi-omics platforms, and digital twin technologies, to support next-generation human spaceflight and exploration.

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DR. JEREMY SAGET MD

FLIGHT SURGEON

Dr. Jeremy Saget, MD, is an accomplished aerospace physician, parabolic flight instructor, and flight surgeon with extensive expertise in human performance in extreme environments. Trained in aerospace medicine and affiliated with leading European institutions, including MEDES, he serves as a weightless flight surgeon and instructor with Air Zero G and Novespace, supporting and training crews in microgravity operations. Dr. Saget brings a unique blend of clinical medicine, operational flight experience, and humanitarian service, including helicopter-based medical relief missions for the United Nations in challenging environments. A graduate of the MMAARS program, he commanded the MMAARS Crew 1114 Mars Medics Mission in 2016, demonstrating leadership in high-fidelity analog astronaut training and mission execution. He remains committed to advancing next-generation space medicine, crew safety, and performance optimization in isolated, confined, and extreme (I.C.E.) environments.

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DR. SARAH SPELSBERG MD FAWN FEWN

REMOTE MEDICAL LEAD

Dr. Sarah Spelsberg, MD, FAWM, FEWM, is an expert in extreme and wilderness medicine, serving as Director of U.S. Operations for World Extreme Medicine and an experienced operational physician in remote, high-risk environments. Her career spans helicopter emergency medicine, expeditionary care, and humanitarian missions across austere settings, including Alaska search-and-rescue and global field deployments. She served as Crew Medical Officer for Dr. Joseph Dituri’s historic 100-day NAUTILUS underwater mission at Jules’ Undersea Habitat, overseeing all medical operations and ensuring crew health and safety in a prolonged isolated, confined, and extreme (I.C.E.) environment. Her expertise strengthens mission readiness, human performance, and medical resilience for analog astronautics and future spaceflight.

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Principal Investigators (PI Team)

Principal Investigator
Dr. Krys Strand, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience at Concordia College. Dr. Strand specializes in cognitive neuroscience, human performance, and behavioral research in extreme environments. She has extensive experience in analog astronaut team operations through the University of North Dakota (UND) Inflatable Lunar/Mars Analog Habitat (ILMAH) Analog Training Basecamp and is the founder of the first multi-site analog astronaut training facility, ECOS, based at Concordia Language Villages in Minnesota. Through ECOS, she is pioneering multi-site, multi-crew analog astronaut missions, advancing scalable models for human performance research and operational training in isolated, confined, and extreme environments (I.C.E.E).

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Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Raj Badhan, PhD

Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology and Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetics (PBPK), at Aston University, and CEO of VASTX. Dr. Badhan leads precision medicine integration through advanced PBPK modeling and digital twin systems to predict drug behavior and human physiology in extreme and spaceflight environments. LinkedIn

Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Stefan Green, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Genomics and Director of the Genomics Core Facility at Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Green specializes in multi-omics, microbiome science, and biospecimen analytics, leading genomic data strategies to understand human adaptation in extreme environments. LinkedIn

Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Joseph Dituri, PhD

Assistant Professor, University of South Florida. Dr. Dituri is a globally recognized aquanaut, hyperbaric medicine expert, and record-setting mission commander for the longest continuous duration living underwater. His work integrates undersea physiology, aerospace engineering, and human performance research to advance mission safety and biomedical insights in isolated, confined, and extreme environments (I.C.E.E). LinkedIn

Co-Principal Investigator
Dr. Susan Jewell, MD

Physician-scientist and CEO of MMAARS. Dr. Jewell leads mission integration, clinical translation, and AI-enabled health systems, advancing research in analog astronautics and space medicine across high-fidelity I.C.E. missions. LINKEDIN

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD (IRB)

All MMAARS–NAUTILUS OPS research is conducted under Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved protocols, ensuring the highest standards of ethics, participant safety, and scientific integrity. Studies are designed as minimal-risk, non-clinical investigations with strict adherence to informed consent, data privacy, and confidentiality. MMAARS–NAUTILUS OPS integrates multidisciplinary research across neuroscience, genomics, pharmacology, behavioral health, and AI-enabled systems to advance human performance in isolated, confined, and extreme (I.C.E.) environments, with data governance aligned to global best practices, including HIPAA and GDPR principles.