Photographer Mackenzie Calle Joins Mars Simulation as Crew Journalist

Mackenzie Calle, a photojournalist and National Geographic Explorer, took part in the World's Biggest Analog (WBA), the largest-ever space simulation aimed at assessing human habitation on Mars and the Moon. In October 2025, more than 60 analog astronauts across 16 habitats in 13 countries engaged in a two-week simulation simultaneously. Calle served as both Crew Journalist and GreenHab officer at the Mars Desert Research Station in southern Utah, where she was one of four crew members. Preparation for the mission began in October 2024, involving a year of training and weekly online meetings for logistics and team cohesion. Calle described the sensation of Earth receding as "incredible and scary." The simulation sought to explore potential life on Mars.