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Volunteer to Simulate a Mars Mission for the ESA

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the 17-months-seems-fair-to-me dept.

number6x writes "The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for volunteers for a simulated trip to Mars. The simulation will put a crew of six in isolation for 17 months. The crew will be made up of 4 Russians and 2 Europeans. In all the ESA will need 12 volunteers for back up purposes. Seventeen months was chosen to simulate the time needed for the journey to Mars and back, as well as a 30 day period spent doing experiments on the red planet."

23 of 209 comments (clear)

  1. Oh the humanity! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Four Russians and two Europeans cooped up for 17 months in a confined space? Do you have any idea how bad that's going to smell? It's going to be like feet wrapped in leathery, burnt bacon. Ewwww!

    1. Re:Oh the humanity! by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 2, Funny

      It'll smell like Bigfoot's dick!! Someone should mod parent insightful. It is clear he speaks from long experience...
  2. Do they intend to simulate by RealGene · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...bone loss, extended radiation exposure, and catastrophic micrometeorite punctures?
    That would be a reality show worth watching...
    --Gene

    --
    Mission: To provide products that consume time and energy as entertainingly as permitted by the laws of thermodynamics.
  3. Oblig. by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 2, Funny



    Get your ass to simulated Mars!

    </Aahnold>

    --
    ____

    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

  4. Strong recommendation by edwardpickman · · Score: 4, Funny

    The entire crew should be made up of nerds and geeks. They can do 17 months without sex standing on their heads.

    1. Re:Strong recommendation by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 5, Funny

      They can do without sex, sure...but the simulated latency on WoW would demoralize them within a week. ^_^

      --
      ____

      ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

    2. Re:Strong recommendation by BlackCobra43 · · Score: 3, Funny

      but how will they get on Battlegrounds? Which group would they be in? Never mind that, which ZONE? US? Oceanic? "Outer fucking space"?

      --
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  5. Bah, the Dutch did this years ago.... by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 3, Funny

    Only we called it "Big Brother", and it was the end of tv as we knew it.

    --

    People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
    1. Re:Bah, the Dutch did this years ago.... by Opportunist · · Score: 1, Funny

      *blink*

      You just gave me a billion dollar idea. Round up all those BB losers and fire them off to Mars. After all, they already proved that they can survive 17 years sitting on top of each other.

      Yeah, every week someone gets kicked out the airlock, but then again, I mean, who'd miss 'em?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  6. Interesting ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Communications with the simulated mission control and loved-ones will take up to 40 minutes" They're running Vista?
  7. Just think... by spungo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Every single day, the same routine, the same faces, the same surroundings, the same conversations... or I could leave IT and sign up for this!

  8. /. is falling behind by phrostie · · Score: 4, Funny

    /. is falling behind. this is old news.

    my wife was trying to volunteer me for this yesterday.

    wait,,,

  9. I'm got dibs on being the alien lifeform by Timesprout · · Score: 3, Funny

    you know, the one that slaughters the crew.

    --
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    What truth?
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  10. Re:Simulated radiation trauma? by Troed · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yes. The location for this experiment is going to be close to the LHC - which will finish in this timescale and provide the participants with the needed cosmic rays.

    --
    it's in my head
  11. Re:What they fail to mention in the summary by RealGrouchy · · Score: 2, Funny

    That would be great--if there were duty-free shops on Mars.

    - RG>

    --
    Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!
  12. Use the existing facilities by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 1, Funny

    They should use the old Apollo sets they used when they faked the moon landings. ;)

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
  13. Backup? by Plutonite · · Score: 3, Funny

    In all the ESA will need 12 volunteers for back up purposes. Me != Hard disk drive, thank you very much. Europeans..
  14. Re:Will they be allowed to have sex? by billdar · · Score: 3, Funny

    Better question:

    "When will FOX air it on TV?"

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    I am billdar, and I approve this message.
  15. Re:What they fail to mention in the summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    your hourly wage is about 5 bucks

    Huh? 120 EUR / day is 20 EUR / hour, which is approximately 27 USD / hour. You are underestimating the pay by over 80%.

  16. Re:I'm getting antsy just thinking about this... by Hatta · · Score: 3, Funny

    The only thing worse is being confined to a rock with 6 billion other people for the rest of your life.

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    Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  17. Re:Will they be allowed to have sex? by dintech · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yep, the 240-mile-high club is pretty exclusive.

  18. Yes! by FatSean · · Score: 4, Funny

    And FoxNews will devote several hour-long 'special features' and 'townhall meetings' which center arround bashing those godless heathens who would have sex outside of marriage and a gravitational field.

    --
    Blar.
  19. Re:Aren't Russians European? by sprintstar · · Score: 3, Funny

    Europe is the bit between the UK and Russia.. :)