Filipino Hawaii Space Exploration Analog & Simulation (HI-SEAS) astronaut Marvic Alcantara lived out an astrophile’s dream, discovering the cosmos and completing his simulated mission.
The registered medical practitioner assumed “I Na Hoku’s” Medical Officer and Nutrition Specialist post, providing “holistic care, proper nutrition, and ensuring optimal health” of his crew while simultaneously experiencing and managing cases attributed to the moon’s environmental settings.
Facebook: Marvic Jon Alcantara
Mauna Loa’s rocky slopes were the stomping ground for the exploration, as the experience was seemingly nothing mundane. Together with Katie Fisher (Crew Commander/Communication Officer), Sanjay Giridharan (Vice Commander/Public Outreach Officer), Ruben Montenegro (Space Engineer), and Tuğçağ Dumlupinar (Chief Scientist), they successfully combatted the tropics undeterred, regardless of their differences.
“Our journey to the moon has ended. We were exposed to a simulated lunar environment with various challenges. There was a time when everything went south, and despite our differences in backgrounds, race, and field of specialization, the crew worked as one and was able to carry out interventions that got us through,” the Filipino analog astronaut mentioned.
Alcantara’s out-of-this-world-like feat places him as the second Filipino analog astronaut (the first Filipino medical doctor), following Kristine Atienza’s simulation of Mars the previous year as a fellow nutrition specialist. The voyage consists of a one-two week stay at the facility, as participants of varying roles perform extravehicular activities (EVA) in astronaut suits within the 1,200-square-foot dome.
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