Practice makes perfect, even on Mars

Russia is planning a simulated mission to Mars to study the effects of such a voyage on the crew.

The 500 Days experiment, under development by the Russian Institute of Medical and Biological Problems, will isolate human volunteers in a mock space station module for -- as its namesake suggests -- a complete 500 days to study how a long mission to Mars might affect its human crew.

"Obviously, we're very interested in the results," NASA spokeswoman Dolores Beasley said of the long-duration study during a telephone interview. "It is a high priority for us."

During the 500 Days study, six volunteers will depend on a preset limit of supplies, including about 5 tons of food and oxygen and 3 tons of water. A doctor will accompany volunteers inside the module to treat illnesses and injuries. Volunteers will only be allowed to quit the experiment if the develop a severe ailment or psychological stress.

Make sure you check out some of the related stories there too, the Russians are doing some interesting things regarding a future Mars mission.

Posted by Ted at October 13, 2004 04:46 AM | TrackBack