Russian Scientists Plan Simulated Mission to Mars

EzRag writes "According to this article in New Scientist, Russian scientists are preparing for a simulated mission to Mars, with six cosmonauts crammed into approx. 400 sq. meters for the length of the (simulated) journey. They'll bring with them all the food they'd need, and will recycle air and water. They will not, however, be exposed to simulated solar radition."

Comments

No radiation, no (no gravity)....

[wowbagger]

No solar radiation.

No absense of gravity.

No micrometeorite punctures.

Let's see, what else won't be an accurate simulation?

This sounds to me like it might be good for psychological research, and possible some life support systems work, but as for really simulating a trip....

I'd rather see somebody, anybody, start working on a real, permanently manned lunar base. You can at least BEGIN to simulate a trip then, while still being only a few days away from home if things go wrong.

But the Moon is no longer considered "sexy" by The Powers That Be.

Re:No radiation, no (no gravity)....

[skwirlmaster]

Well it may not be exactly accurate in a physical sense, but it will be a start. These people will be off of the Earth for at least 1.5 yrs (9 months each way). That, and the communications problems are the only really _NEW_ aspect to going to Mars. There is one person who was in space for close to that long, but He is an individual not a group, and he was close to the Earth. In that respect it will be valuable research. I think it may also help narrow down what things that have slipped or have been forgotten.

Re:I hope they remember...

[Andy_R]

well, if you bothered to RTFA, you would know that the experiment is being run by the Institute of Biological and Medical Problems in Moscow, and whole point of the it is to investigate the psychological effects of isolation, communication delays and medical self-reliance.