Russia searches for Mars flight test crew

MOSCOW, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Russian scientists are searching for a crew of Russians and Europeans to test simulated flights to Mars.

Moscow Institute of Biomedical Problems chief Anatoly Grigoryev said the crew must be ready by early next year to begin 105-day simulated missions, Itar-Tass reported Thursday.

Grigoryev said the crew, which will include four Russians and two Europeans, will include women and men, and will be isolated from the external world in a model of the Martian spaceship designed at the institute. They communicate with the outside word only by e-mail.