ITHACA, N.Y., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they're looking for volunteers for a four-month Mars mission in a mockup space capsule on Earth to measure appetites and food preferences.
Designing a menu for a long spaceflight like a mission to Mars is more complicated than it looks, researchers at Cornell University said.
Astronauts tend to get bored with endlessly repeating menus when it comes to food, Jean Hunter, professor of biological and environmental engineering and a leader of the simulated mission, said.
"They not only tire of eating foods they normally enjoy, but also tend to eat less, which can put them at risk for nutritional deficiency, loss of bone and muscle mass, and reduced physical capabilities," she said in a Cornell release.
During the simulated mission, the volunteer "astronauts" will eat a mix of instant foods and meals they'll cook for themselves from stable ingredients and will rate all their meals and complete daily surveys about their mood state, personal health and body mass.
Volunteers for the Hawaii Space Exploration Analogue & Simulation to begin in early 2013 in Hawaii will be paid $5,000 plus travel and expenses, the researchers said.
Hunter and her colleagues said they hope to attract highly educated volunteers such as scientists and engineers.
