Ready to 'conquer' Mars

Russia's Mars-500 space mission has been in good condition since its inception. Interfax news agency reported on August 13: there are currently more than 70 people registered as volunteers for a project to simulate a flight carrying people to conquer Mars.

Spokesperson M.Belakovsky of the Russian Biological Incident Research Institute (SBPI) said that among more than 70 volunteers, there are 6 women and many couples. They come from 17 different countries. Only 6 volunteers who meet all of SBPI's strictest conditions will be selected to participate in the project, which is expected to last 520 days from 2007 to 2009.

These people will live in modules of a special spaceship under the same conditions as when the ship is exploring Mars. Experts will monitor the health conditions of this group to serve the conquest of Mars in the future.