Record 520-Day Mock Mars Mission Begins in Russia

[csmyth3025]

I don't know whether the 520-day mock mission qualifies a bona fide "mission" in the context of this thread, but it seems like it should qualify to me. The article on this can be found in the Space.com site at: http://www.space.com/news/record-settin ... 00603.html

This is seems to be a serious and well supported scientific endeavor seeking to answer questions about the physiological and psychological effects of a long-term trip in space (to Mars) as well as possible technologies that might be utilized.

Although this is, as far as I know, the first such long-duration mock spaceflight (it has been preceded by a 14 day and a 105 day simulation conducted by the same Mars500 project, a joint experiment by Russia, the European Space Agency and China), I would think that pertinent lessons from (nuclear) submarines, antarctic bases, the MIR space station and the ISS have been applied to and incorporated in this experiment. Based on the history of select crews living and working in confined environments, does anyone think any insurmountable problems will be encountered in this experiment?

This simulation is necessarily conducted in a 1-g environment, since it's Earth-based. Does anyone know if a real trip to Mars is intended to provide some level of artificial gravity by spinning the habitat modules?

On a related question, does anyone know if living in the 1/6-g environment of the moon produces the same detrimental effects of living in the zero-g environment of the ISS?

Chris

 

[JonClarke]

I don't know whether the 520-day mock mission qualifies a bona fide "mission" in the context of this thread, but it seems like it should qualify to me. The article on this can be found in the Space.com site at: http://www.space.com/news/record-settin ... 00603.html

This is seems to be a serious and well supported scientific endeavor seeking to answer questions about the physiological and psychological effects of a long-term trip in space (to Mars) as well as possible technologies that might be utilized.

I have been looking forward it to this mission since I first heard about 7 yerars ago from one of the leading researchers. It is great to see them off and running at last.

Although this is, as far as I know, the first such long-duration mock spaceflight (it has been preceded by a 14 day and a 105 day simulation conducted by the same Mars500 project, a joint experiment by Russia, the European Space Agency and China), I would think that pertinent lessons from (nuclear) submarines, antarctic bases, the MIR space station and the ISS have been applied to and incorporated in this experiment. Based on the history of select crews living and working in confined environments, does anyone think any insurmountable problems will be encountered in this experiment?

Thanks to previous experiments and experience in other comparable situations I don't think there will be insurmountable problems. The crew are tough, well trained, and highly motivated. Of course there could be life-threatening events like a fire or a major illness forcing the curtailing of a mission for ethical reasons. But these are not likely.

This simulation is necessarily conducted in a 1-g environment, since it's Earth-based. Does anyone know if a real trip to Mars is intended to provide some level of artificial gravity by spinning the habitat modules?

Some do, some don't. At this stage probably not, as it is simpler not too.

On a related question, does anyone know if living in the 1/6-g environment of the moon produces the same detrimental effects of living in the zero-g environment of the ISS?

Good questions. probably something between full gravity and zero gravity.

 

[EarthlingX]

Home page
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars500/index.html

and

http://mars500.mp/

http://www.esa.int : Hatch closed: 18-month Mars500 mission has begun

3 June 2010
Mars500, the first full-length simulated mission to Mars, started today in Moscow at 13:49 local time (11:49 CET), when the six-man crew entered their ‘spacecraft’ and the hatch was closed. The experiment will run until November next year.

The mood was serious and very determined in the Mars500 facility at the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow this afternoon, as the crew talked to the press and then walked into the modules that will be their home for the next 520 days.

Diego Urbina and Romain Charles from Europe, Sukhrob Kamolov, Alexey Sitev, Alexandr Smoleevskiy and Mikhail Sinelnikov from Russia and Wang Yue from China face a mission that is as close as possible to a real space voyage without leaving the ground. They will live and work like astronauts, eat special food and exercise in the same way as crews aboard the International Space Station.

Crew just before ingress

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mars5OO

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bvompa3cUM[/youtube]

http://www.esa.int : Goodbye Sun, goodbye Earth, we are leaving for Mars!

3 June 2010
This is the first entry of the Mars500 mission diary by European crewmembers Diego Urbina and Romain Charles.

Hello,

If you are reading these lines, I guess that you already know most of the technical characteristics of the Mars500 project. For our first diary, I would like to write some lines about our training and how it is from the inside.

Romain in his cabin

 

[Zipi]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYs9SrFtxIE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMRNfyWqmJ0[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

ESA: Mars 500 - mission facts :
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivEOTUOaH8E[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

From http://www.youtube.com/user/ESA

www.youtube.com : Playlist Mars 500 experiment

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76mfOjrJwOs[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKXwQZs2eLc[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYme__IpuIQ[/youtube]

 

[bdewoody]

I think this is a great experiment. I assume that they are limited as to the amount of food they eat, storage of said food and recycling od air and water. As I recall the bio-sphere experiment was corrupted due to certain essential ingredients leaking into and out of the closed environment.

Are they planning to include any simulated emergencies? What if one or more of the crew gets a life threatening illness such as cancer?

It seems any psychological data will be corrupted by the knowledge that should a real medical emergency happen they can open the hatch and get medical help.

I saw on a Science channel program that most NASA scientists think that even moon gravity will prevent most 0g ailments from occurring.

 

[nimbus]

It seems any psychological data will be corrupted by the knowledge that should a real medical emergency happen they can open the hatch and get medical help.

So the next question may be - is that notion the only corruptor at play? And if so, is everything else learned from this experiment enough to address the issues left open by that one unresolved factor - the notion that they're truly out there millions of miles, light-minutes away and months from any help, in the void of space?

 

[csmyth3025]

To a large extent I think those on ISS and their predecessors on MIR had accepted the fact that they were mostly "on their own" if a true emergency came up. The fire on MIR and the collision of it with a progress resupply ship were examples of this fact. I think they know the risks they're taking.

Chris

 

[JonClarke]

I think this is a great experiment. I assume that they are limited as to the amount of food they eat, storage of said food and recycling od air and water. As I recall the bio-sphere experiment was corrupted due to certain essential ingredients leaking into and out of the closed environment.

No it wasn't because the quantities were small and carefully accounted.

Are they planning to include any simulated emergencies? What if one or more of the crew gets a life threatening illness such as cancer?

There will be simulated emergencies and presumably unsimulated breakdowns and other problems. Yes people can be evacuated if neccessary. It would be unethical not to.

It seems any psychological data will be corrupted by the knowledge that should a real medical emergency happen they can open the hatch and get medical help.

Extensive experience indicates that despite this the data is extremely valuable and closely tracks what happens on real space missions. IBMP havew been doing this sort of research for more than 40 years, and did a full year isolation study in 1967-68.

 

[JonClarke]

To a large extent I think those on ISS and their predecessors on MIR had accepted the fact that they were mostly "on their own" if a true emergency came up. The fire on MIR and the collision of it with a progress resupply ship were examples of this fact. I think they know the risks they're taking.

The difference is on the ISS and Mir was the presence of instantaneous communication, which will be absent going to Mars and which is one of the issues this study is evaluating.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.youtube.com/user/ESA

ESA — June 16, 2010 — Diego Urbina (@diegou) takes us on tour inside the Mars500 facilities - see how the crew are living and working for the next 17 months in isolation.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP7pni7AZGk[/youtube]

ESA — June 17, 2010 — The Mars500 crew sent multi-language greetings to life scientists meeting in Trieste this week at ESA's Life Sciences Symposium.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyGzZ7YzEEo[/youtube]

http://twitter.com/diegou

Mission day 14, we undocked from the ISS and are currently leaving Low Earth Orbit.We are 300 km from Eath and 173 397 472km from Mars

I couldn't help but saying out loud "ENGAGE" to Alexei when he undocked the spacecraft

 

[EarthlingX]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH7lF33CFLM[/youtube]

June 17, 2010 — Romain Charles completes the tour In part 2 of the Mars500 video diary Romain Charles shows us around the control room, the medical facility where the crew do experiments, and where they sleep and eat. Catch a glimpse of his Russian crewmates preparing lunch - see what's for dinner and what's growing in the greenhouse.

 

[EarthlingX]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brq6zfZ2rEE[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRsGLos0ljM[/youtube]

In one aspect the life of the Mars500 crew is just like home: they have to clean the microwave, scrub the toilet, mop the floors, sponge the walls and vacuum around. In this latest video diary Diego shows the crew hard at work keeping their home from home tidy - doesn't look so 'interplanetary'.

 

[EarthlingX]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQpg9lYoIYg[/youtube]

One of the European Space Agency experiments involves the collection of air samples to measure the quality of air in a confined space such as the Mars500 modules. Romain Charles demonstrates the collection procedure and describes the scope of this experiment.

 

[JonClarke]

It's a few weeks old, but the latest diary entry makes interesting reading, descibing morining schedules and birthday rituals.

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars500/SEMZQPWNPBG_0.html

 

[kk434]

For me it sounds like a space version of big brother. Is there a live feed somewhere on the net?

 

[EarthlingX]

For me it sounds like a space version of big brother. Is there a live feed somewhere on the net?

This has nothing to do with the Big Brother, and comparing it shows you don't have idea what or who Big Brother is, which makes you a bit more fortunate than some of us, who might've had some experience with the concept. It slightly reminds of Reality Shows, but since there is no live feed, it's not that either. You will find links to available updates in the posts above this one.

http://www.esa.int : Waste not - want not

18 August 2010
In the fourth diary entry, Diego tells us about watching the World Cup with a time delay and 'hunting' for food. With no supermarket on the way to Mars, tracking and monitoring of supplies is vital.



Football is one of those things that relax you after a hard day's work with experiments. During the South Africa World Cup, we didn't have access to cable TV as, apparently, there is no TV in outer space. Not being able to watch the matches live, we were able to watch a fraction of the tournament thanks to the aid of mission control. They couldn't get hold of much content of the Italian matches, which at the start made me frustrated, but in the end turned out to be a blessing for obvious reasons I'd rather not discuss! (seriously, Italy, what's the problem?).

Well, as is usual on Earth, we decided to run a small gamble on the World Cup. It was all fun and games until we got a winner and realized that we had nothing to pay him with.

Should we give him a bag of straws for air sampling? What? Nah. Should we give him extra tea? Uhm he can already have extra tea by himself. There was nothing we could give our Commander Alexei for accurately forecasting most of the unpredictable quarter-, semi-finals and finals of the biggest sports event on Earth, a feat that most of us, living creatures without 8 tentacles, would not be able to achieve, and which should not go unnoticed.

 

[JonClarke]

For me it sounds like a space version of big brother. Is there a live feed somewhere on the net?

It is nothing like Big brother. That is a trashy popular entertaininment program that appeals to the lowest common denominator.

This is a very serious (and expensive) experiment designed to further the goal of getting people to Mars and back. the crew are carefully selected to have the skills to most achieve success. Please read the links.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Maybe all should look back at the original "Big Brother" in the Orwell novel 1984. After all, that is where the term came from. The TV show producers should be incinerated for stealing the name.

 

[kk434]

My comment was sort of a joke. I have read about this simulation an vieved a couple of vids but it seems SO far from the rigors of a real Mars mission that i dont know what can be learnt from it. The only important part that can be tested is how crew morale is affected by isolation.

 

[EarthlingX]

SDC : On Months-Long Missions, How Durable Is An Astronaut's Mind?

By Denise Chow
SPACE.com Staff Writer
posted: 02 September 2010
01:42 pm ET



As an international team of volunteers in Russia approaches the three-month mark in its ambitious simulation of a 520-day flight to Mars, researchers are keeping a close watch on how the six men are physically and psychologically coping.

The Mars500 project began June 3 with three Russians, two Europeans and one Chinese participant sealed inside a Mars spaceship simulator at Russia's Institute for Biomedical Problems in Moscow.

By meticulously practicing every step of a mission to the Red Planet, the volunteers are giving scientists a close look at the psychological effects of long-duration spaceflight. [Graphic: Inside the Mars500 simulator.]

As NASA sets its sights on eventual missions to an asteroid and Mars, it is crucial to understand the physical and mental toll these voyages would take, scientists have said.

"This simulated Mars mission is by far the longest-duration study of crew confinement under operating conditions attempted to date," said David Dinges, who is leading the only American study in the Mars500 project, a joint experiment by Russia, China and the European Space Agency. "It will have an impact on planning for exploration missions." Dinges is a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

This SPACE.com diagram shows layout of the Mars-500 experiment simulating an expedition to the Red Planet. The experiment began June 3, 2010 and will run through November 2011. Credit: Karl Tate

 

[EarthlingX]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3RKD7zRREs[/youtube]

ESA | September 03, 2010

A vital aspect for ensuring the survival of an astronaut crew during their mission to Mars, is the extent to which their supplies such as food and other expendable are rationed. Romain is demonstrating in this video how the Mars500 crew ration their supplies.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.physorg.com : We're thinking of you, 'Mars astronauts' tell Chilean miners

September 10, 2010

Six men who are cut off from the rest of the world in an experiment to simulate a voyage to Mars have sent a message of support to Chile's trapped miners and urged them to "stay busy."

"When you are in isolation you tend to feel closer to all the other people who are living, or who have lived, the same kind of experience," volunteer "astronaut" Romain Charles said in a diary entry released by the European Space Agency (ESA) in Paris on Friday.

"In particular, all our thoughts go to the 33 miners in Chile who are trapped beneath the ground. Their living conditions are really tough and I hope that our message... will reach them."

www.esa.int : Science and thoughts of Chilean miners

10 September 2010



In this newest diary entry from the Mars500, Romain writes about cognitive experiments, describes how to do EEG measurements and sends his best regards to the 33 miners trapped beneath the ground in Chile.