MOSCOW, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Russian scientists are looking for volunteers for a 500-day-long test of conditions that would be faced during a trip to Mars, the BBC reported Wednesday.
However, it will be 2006 at the earliest before the Earth-bound test begins and only two of the required six male volunteers have been chosen so far, the BBC report said.
The mock mission will use a capsule that consists of a bedroom, kitchen and laboratory, and will leave the crew cut off from outside help for 500 days. Scientists want to examine the effects such lengthy periods in space have on the human body.
Various space agencies are conducting experiments designed to simulate conditions in space. The European, French and Japanese space agencies conducted a series of bed-rest studies in 2001, the BBC reported. The European Space Agency plans another bed-rest study early next year.
