On 31 March 2009, six people set off for Mars …. well almost. The crew is actually taking part in a simulated mission which is being made as close as possible to the real thing, without leaving Earth. Their task is to live and work together for 105 days, more or less cut off from the outside world. For the next three months, they will stay inside a special habitat module in Moscow, as part of the preparations for a real human mission to Mars.
More than 5,600 people applied to take part in the experiment. Eventually, Oliver Knickel of Germany and Frenchman Cyrille Fournier were selected by ESA, together with four Russians: cosmonauts Oleg Artemyez and Sergei Ryazansky, Alexei Baranov, a doctor, and Alexei Shpakov, a sports physiologist.
Now that the hatch to the habitat is firmly closed, the crew will experience all the phases of an actual mission to the Red Planet, including launch, the outward journey, arrival at Mars, a visit to the surface and the long journey home. They will have to cope with simulated emergencies, or, perhaps, even real ones. Delays in communication, lasting up to 20 minutes each way, will not make life any easier.
Scientists are keen to find out how the isolation affects the crew, both physically and mentally. Every aspect of their behaviour will be monitored, including stress levels, health, sleep quality, mood and the effectiveness of food supplements. Regular diary updates from the ESA members will be posted at: http://www.esa.int/mars500. Later this year, another crew of six will take part in a 520-day experiment to simulate a full mission to Mars.
