Wanted: Space Pioneers for 520 day Mars mission

*Raph's Girl* · 06-21-2007, 12:55 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070619...pacemarseurope

The European Space Agency (ESA) on Tuesday called for applications for one of the most demanding human experiments in space history: a simulated trip to Mars in which six "astronauts" will spend 17 months in an isolation tank on Earth.

Their spaceship will comprise a series of interlocked modules in an research institute in Moscow, and once the doors are closed tight, the volunteers will be cut off from all contact with the outside world except by a delayed radio link.

They will face simulated emergencies, daily work routines and experiments, as well as boredom and, no doubt, personal friction from confinement in just 550 cubic metres (19,250 cubic feet), the equivalent of nine truck containers.

Communications with the simulated mission control and loved-ones will take up to 40 minutes, the time that a radio signal takes to cross the void between Earth and a spaceship on Mars. Food will comprise mainly the packaged stuff of the kind eaten aboard the
International Space Station (ISS).

The goal is to gain experience about the psychological challenges that a crew will face on a trip to Mars.

Four of the crew will be Russian, and two will come from countries that are members of ESA, agency and Russian officials said at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget.

In all, 12 European volunteers are needed.

A precursor 105-day study is scheduled to start by mid-2008, possibly followed by another 105-day study, before the full 520-day study begins in late 2008 or early 2009.

Backup for the two volunteers taking part in each of these simulations means that 12 Europeans are needed.

"The selection procedure is similar to that of ESA astronauts, although there will be more emphasis on psychological factors and stress resistance than on physical fitness," ESA said in a press release.

Men and women who think they have the right stuff can download the application form on (http://www.spaceflight.esa.int/CallforCandidates).

The terrestrial Mars-stronauts will not get much glory for their confinement, nor will they get particularly rich.

They will get paid 120 euros (158 dollars) a day, said Marc Heppener of ESA's Science and Application Division.

Viktor Baranov of Russia's Institute of Biomedical Problems, where the experiment will take place, said his organisation had received about 150 applications, only 19 of which came from women.

"The problem is that it is very difficult to find healthy people for this kind of experiment," he said.

Assuming that Mars and Earth are favourably aligned, with their closest distance of 56 million kilometres (35 million miles), it would take 250 days to get there, 30 days spent on site to conduct experiments and 240 days for the return, said Baranov.

A trip to Mars is not an early prospect. The United States has set plans to return to the Moon by 2018 and later head to Mars, but without setting a date.

The trip is fraught with many technical challenges, many of which are outranked by the question of keeping the crew healthy and sane.

Raph's Girl note: Ya know...they could very easily make a reality show about this.....

RaphistheBest · 06-21-2007, 01:30 PM

Holy crap! You're right! And you know what, that would be a reality show I would watch. Come on, watching an experiment like that happen would be totally cool. I remember watching one show that had people in isolation tanks that were pushed to the limit mentally and it was pretty cool. I saw that show so long ago that I can't even remember the name of the show. Oh well. "Mission to Mars: the Reality Show!"... hmmm, kinda catchy lol.

Time Mistress · 06-27-2007, 04:30 PM

Return to the Moon in 2018! With no plans on when we'll get to Mars?!

Sigh. When exactly did we lose our sense of urgentcy in the space program? Was it when the Challenger exploded? When communism collapsed? If he were still alive, I think Kennedy would be very disapointed to learn its taking us FOURTY NINE YEARS to return just to the $%&*@ Moon!

I'd like to be able to say humanity went to Mars before I have grandkids thank you.

CudleyCowlick · 06-27-2007, 05:34 PM

So it's limited to European applicants, eh? If I could, I'd probably do it, but I couldn't imagine what my girlfriend, and my family would think. I'd have no trouble staying sane through mediation. I've been in an isolation tank for up to 7 hours before, and it was an awesome experience. Still, it's almost not enough money to make it worth it.

Of course, if it wasn't just a simulation, and I actually got to go to space... I'd pay them 158 dollars a day.

Pepzi · 07-01-2007, 02:48 AM

Sending in my resume now....

06-21-2007, 12:55 AM	#1
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Wanted: Space Pioneers for 520 day Mars mission http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070619...pacemarseurope The European Space Agency (ESA) on Tuesday called for applications for one of the most demanding human experiments in space history: a simulated trip to Mars in which six "astronauts" will spend 17 months in an isolation tank on Earth. Their spaceship will comprise a series of interlocked modules in an research institute in Moscow, and once the doors are closed tight, the volunteers will be cut off from all contact with the outside world except by a delayed radio link. They will face simulated emergencies, daily work routines and experiments, as well as boredom and, no doubt, personal friction from confinement in just 550 cubic metres (19,250 cubic feet), the equivalent of nine truck containers. Communications with the simulated mission control and loved-ones will take up to 40 minutes, the time that a radio signal takes to cross the void between Earth and a spaceship on Mars. Food will comprise mainly the packaged stuff of the kind eaten aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The goal is to gain experience about the psychological challenges that a crew will face on a trip to Mars. Four of the crew will be Russian, and two will come from countries that are members of ESA, agency and Russian officials said at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget. In all, 12 European volunteers are needed. A precursor 105-day study is scheduled to start by mid-2008, possibly followed by another 105-day study, before the full 520-day study begins in late 2008 or early 2009. Backup for the two volunteers taking part in each of these simulations means that 12 Europeans are needed. "The selection procedure is similar to that of ESA astronauts, although there will be more emphasis on psychological factors and stress resistance than on physical fitness," ESA said in a press release. Men and women who think they have the right stuff can download the application form on (http://www.spaceflight.esa.int/CallforCandidates). The terrestrial Mars-stronauts will not get much glory for their confinement, nor will they get particularly rich. They will get paid 120 euros (158 dollars) a day, said Marc Heppener of ESA's Science and Application Division. Viktor Baranov of Russia's Institute of Biomedical Problems, where the experiment will take place, said his organisation had received about 150 applications, only 19 of which came from women. "The problem is that it is very difficult to find healthy people for this kind of experiment," he said. Assuming that Mars and Earth are favourably aligned, with their closest distance of 56 million kilometres (35 million miles), it would take 250 days to get there, 30 days spent on site to conduct experiments and 240 days for the return, said Baranov. A trip to Mars is not an early prospect. The United States has set plans to return to the Moon by 2018 and later head to Mars, but without setting a date. The trip is fraught with many technical challenges, many of which are outranked by the question of keeping the crew healthy and sane. Raph's Girl note: Ya know...they could very easily make a reality show about this..... __________________

06-27-2007, 04:30 PM	#3
Time Mistress Stone Warrior Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pennshellvania, or the 79th level of Null-Time Posts: 710	Return to the Moon in 2018! With no plans on when we'll get to Mars?! Sigh. When exactly did we lose our sense of urgentcy in the space program? Was it when the Challenger exploded? When communism collapsed? If he were still alive, I think Kennedy would be very disapointed to learn its taking us FOURTY NINE YEARS to return just to the $%&@ Moon! I'd like to be able to say humanity went to Mars before I have grandkids thank you. __________________ AKA the Edwardian Adventuress and Fairlady_Z "You just made your last mistake, Bugeyes -- 'cuz nobody beats up my best buddy and gets away with it -- Nobody!* Got that?!" Raphael about Michaelangelo, TMNT Volume 1

06-27-2007, 05:34 PM	#4
CudleyCowlick Stone Warrior Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vermont, USA Posts: 721	So it's limited to European applicants, eh? If I could, I'd probably do it, but I couldn't imagine what my girlfriend, and my family would think. I'd have no trouble staying sane through mediation. I've been in an isolation tank for up to 7 hours before, and it was an awesome experience. Still, it's almost not enough money to make it worth it. Of course, if it wasn't just a simulation, and I actually got to go to space... I'd pay them 158 dollars a day. __________________ THE DARKNESS AGE IS RETURN!

07-01-2007, 02:48 AM	#5
Pepzi Hench Mutant Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sewer Posts: 420	Sending in my resume now.... __________________

06-21-2007, 01:30 PM	#2
RaphistheBest Foot Soldier Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hell Posts: 174	Holy crap! You're right! And you know what, that would be a reality show I would watch. Come on, watching an experiment like that happen would be totally cool. I remember watching one show that had people in isolation tanks that were pushed to the limit mentally and it was pretty cool. I saw that show so long ago that I can't even remember the name of the show. Oh well. "Mission to Mars: the Reality Show!"... hmmm, kinda catchy lol.