The European Space Agency (ESA) and a group Russian researchers are set to lock a crew of six people in metal tubes for a simulated trip to Mars. The "mission" will be known as Mars500, and will take place in an isolation facility in Russia. It will enable organizers to study the difficulties presented by a lengthy spaceflight such as the one to Mars. The volunteer participants will attempt to re-create all elements of an actual mission, including launch, an outboard journey, a research trip to the planet’s surface, and the return trip—all of which will take 500 days. Locked inside the research station, the crew will have to deal with real limitations such as a carefully portioned food supply, 20-minute delays in communication, and simulated emergencies. In addition, there is the further possibility of real medical emergencies arising.
http://www.marsnews.com (04/03/07)
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