Laura Marie, a UK-born pilot now flying for a regional airline in the US, was selected from roughly 8,000 applicants to join NASA’s year-long Mars simulation mission at the Johnson Space Center. Holding a BA in philosophy and an MSc in aeronautics, she serves as an alternate crew member for the 378-day Chapea mission inside the Mars Dune Alpha habitat. Marie’s role involves preparing to step in if a primary crew member cannot participate, while contributing to studies on human health, psychology, and performance in long-duration spaceflight. Passionate about space exploration, she sees the mission as a stepping stone toward potential future crewed trips to Mars.