KATHMANDU: A team of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials today arrived in Kathmandu on a visit to the Everest region.

Talking to The Himalayan Times, the team members said they would contribute to the research activities of the NASA. They, however, said their trip was not official.

NASA Orion Landing System Integration Manager and leader of the expedition, Chris J Johnson and said there were doctors, pilots and scientists in the team of 11 NASA officials.

Steve Vander Ark, Section Manager, Behavioral Health and Performance Group, NASA, said NASA scientist Jake Maule and he wanted to do some serious research to help the astronauts.

Equipped with the Actiwatch and Lab-On-a-Chip Application DevelopmentPortable Test System, the team members would record the sleeping and waking movements and light exposure of the subjects, Steve said, adding that the Lab-On-a-Chip, which detects bacteria and fungi on surfaces inside the International Space Station, will be used to look for snow algae.

"We will meet former NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski at the base camp," Chris said, adding that Scott will conquer the Everest soon.

If his attempt is successful, he'll become the first person ever to have gazed up at space from the pinnacle of Earth's tallest mountain, and gazed down on that same pinnacle from the black vacuum of space.

Chris said the team chose Nepali mountains to trek as Nepal has been known as the best tourist destination in the world. Chris said he, along with a few friends, were also on a NASA's unofficial Everest expedition last year.

Steve said trekking to the base camp will be comparable in some ways to what astro nauts face while engaging in a long spacewalk or an excursion on the surface of the moon or Mars. Mt Everest provides a good space analog, he added.

Maule said the team's re search would benefit future space travellers. The outcomes of the research would aid future research projects of the NASA, he said.

According to him, their research could help scientists develop efficient procedures for future field studies on moon and Mars.

Jean-Loup Chretien, the first Frenchman and western European in space, said he was excited to see the Nepali mountains. International Mission Specialist Chretien said he spent one-and-a- half month in space. "I am eager to be in the Everest region to compare the mountain walk with the spacewalk."

The 25-member-team has Michelle Christgen, Judson Frieling, Lesley Lee, John McBrine, Steve, Jake, Crish, Patricj Thompson, Christine Worstel, Erin Tashner and Jams Johnson from NASA.

The team also collected more than 1500 US dollars to support the Prisoners Assistance Nepal, Chris said. "We also want to help the needy people in Nepal," he added.

The team will leave for Lukla on Monday and is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on May 2, said Ram Sapkota, manager, Samrat Tours and Travels. NASA Astronaut Trainer and Flight Controller Sabrina Gilmore is the trip coordinator.