Simulate the journey to Mars

To find out how the crew could endure a long journey to Mars and complete the mission to explore the ' red planet ', the European Space Agency (ESA) collaborated with Russia. a simulation on a large scale.

For 500 days, six volunteers will be confined to an isolation station in Moscow (Russia) with astronauts' mission of simulating missions to Mars. Collaborating with the Russian Space Agency to create real simulations, the ESA Agency has asked scientists to select projects that will be conducted within 500 days.

Mars500 simulation campaign is scheduled to land on Mars (Photo: ESA)

Operation Mars500 developed by the Russian Institute of Biomedical Research (IBMP). 6 volunteers will live in metal barrels linked together through narrow corridors, forming a space with an area of ​​200m2. The crew will do the work of a real mission, such as carrying out a journey (including ship launch simulations), in a short time in a special module and returning.

What ESA cares about is psychological data. How can people withstand imprisonment for a year and a half, with limited reserve food? How will they have relationships and how will they cope with health problems? What protection systems will they use to address possible problems?

Tests offered by ESA will also take into account the areas of medicine and biology, such as the impact of stress on health, especially on the immune system. In parallel, ESA followed another isolated test in Concorda, France and Italy stations located in Antarctica.

The selection of 6 volunteers in the Mars500 test will end in November. Volunteers will be recruited according to the selection of astronauts, ensuring that the diverse industries such as doctors, engineers, scientists . Experiments will begin in the spring of 2008.