The eight-month study, known as the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation, was the fifth of its kind, funded by NASA and run through the University of Hawaii.
Still, Ehrlich said, “it’s weird—you’re living inside this habitat for eight months.”
“So you’ve basically been in a place for three-quarters of a year, and you come outside and that finally feels real to you,” he explained. “Like, oh man, it’s the middle of September, you got the holidays coming up. You got bills and plans to figure out. It’s a big reality check.”
In order to learn what was happening back home, the crew was allowed to request news about certain topics; mission support would then send a screenshot of a related article, but never links.
Just like in space, there was a 20-minute delay before communications were transmitted. The crew also couldn’t access Google, so most of their new information came from following Wikipedia’s current events or looking at mission-related websites, Ehrlich said.
Ehrlich described himself as someone who likes to keep up with US and international news, and said he kept up the habit while living in the dome — possibly more than he should have. He is originally from Hollywood, Florida, he added, and was constantly checking the National Hurricane website for updates during Irma.
“You want to just do everything,” Ehrlich said about finally getting to leave the dome. “It’s as if you won a million dollars.”
“It’s really fun to be outside,” he said. “In fact, I don’t want to be inside.”
Making moms everywhere proud, Ehrlich admitted that he called his mother and grandma as soon as he got out of the dome. “I wanted to hear their voices,” he said, adding that he also called his girlfriend “and it was awesome to hear her.”
Michelle Broder Van Dyke is a reporter and night editor for BuzzFeed News and is based in Hawaii.
Contact Michelle Broder Van Dyke at michelle@buzzfeed.com.
Got a confidential tip? Submit it here.
