Russia to simulate manned flight to Mars

MOSCOW, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Russia will simulate a 520-day spaceflight to Mars and back with five volunteers next year, an official said Friday.

Igor Panarin, a spokesman for Russia's Federal Space Agency, said that the five participants in the ambitious test, who were all men, had been selected out of more than 150 volunteers from nations including Ukraine, Spain, India, Australia and the United States, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

"The Russian Institute of Medical and Biological Studies has completed the selection of participants for the Mars-500 experiment," Panarin said according to the agency, adding "they come from Russia as well as other countries."

The volunteers selected will spend 520 days inside an experimental module set up on the institute's premises, including a 250-day spaceflight to Mars, 30 days on the red planet's surface and 240 days return flight time, RIA Novosti said.

"They will experience the daily routine of professional astronauts, including medicals, workouts and maintenance of station equipment, and will have to cope with simulated emergency situations, arising both from human error and equipment failure," the agency reported.

The European Space Agency was considering participating in the experiment, possibly providing "research and financial support," RIA Novosti said.

"Russia also plans to launch a Mars probe in the next decade," RIA Novosti said. "Martian soil samples it will bring back will give scientists a better idea of the red planet's chemical composition."