Russian mock mission
Kaushal Toprani
Issue date: 10/15/04 Section: Sci-Tech
- Page 1 of 1
Russian officials plan to launch an important mission that will never leave the ground. In 2006, six volunteers will enter a mock space station module for 500 days to simulate a round-trip mission to Mars.
Scientists at the Russian Institute for Medical and Biological Problems hope to study the effects of an extended mission on the human body.
The crew will enter the metal with five tons of food and oxygen, as well as three tons of water. A doctor will also be on board. Volunteers will only be permitted to quit the experiment if they become severely ill or face intense psychological stress. The current space endurance record is 438 days, held by Russian cosmonaut Valery Polyakov.
Selection for participation is not closed to Russians only. "We have informed our American colleagues that we plan to start an imitation of a manned flight to Mars with the help of volunteers in 2006," said Yevgeny Ilyin, Deputy Director at the Institute for Medical and Biological Problems. NASA will make an official decision on its participation in the coming months.
"Any medical and biological experiments made on board the International Space Station aim at long-distance space flights of the future," Ilyin said. The Russians have far more experience than the NASA space program in long distance flights. The longest time any American has spent in space is 196 days, a record held by Carl Walz and Dan Bursch. Information about the effects of extended space travel on the human body is needed for missions to other planets.
Scientists at the Russian Institute for Medical and Biological Problems hope to study the effects of an extended mission on the human body.
The crew will enter the metal with five tons of food and oxygen, as well as three tons of water. A doctor will also be on board. Volunteers will only be permitted to quit the experiment if they become severely ill or face intense psychological stress. The current space endurance record is 438 days, held by Russian cosmonaut Valery Polyakov.
Selection for participation is not closed to Russians only. "We have informed our American colleagues that we plan to start an imitation of a manned flight to Mars with the help of volunteers in 2006," said Yevgeny Ilyin, Deputy Director at the Institute for Medical and Biological Problems. NASA will make an official decision on its participation in the coming months.
"Any medical and biological experiments made on board the International Space Station aim at long-distance space flights of the future," Ilyin said. The Russians have far more experience than the NASA space program in long distance flights. The longest time any American has spent in space is 196 days, a record held by Carl Walz and Dan Bursch. Information about the effects of extended space travel on the human body is needed for missions to other planets.
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