Simulated Mars Mission

Mars500 crew prepares to enter the isolation facility on 31 March 2009

A crew of six, including two European and four Russians, embarked on a simulated mission to Mars called Mars500 on 31^st March, 2009. It is expected to provide the knowledge of how to keep a small crew psychologically and physiologically healthy, and ultimately, to succeed in the big challenge to bring humankind to Mars and safely back to Earth. The 105-day study precedes a full simulation of a mission to Mars, due to start late in 2009. This will see another six-member crew sealed in the same chamber to experience a complete 520-day Mars mission simulation. Follow the crew throughout their simulated mission, including regular diary updates from the European participants, on the ESA website: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars500/.