ESA needs guinea pigs for Mars trip simulation

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 20 June 2007 07:56

Science - Space

The European Space Agency is calling for volunteers to take part in simulated trip to Mars.

The mission will take 520 days, during which the crew of six (including four volunteers) will be isolated from the rest of the world and will live on food as prepared for astronauts on the International Space Station.

As the simulation progresses, delays of up to 40 minutes will be introduced to communications between the 'ship' and 'mission control' to simulate the lag caused by the distance between Earth and Mars.

A shorter 105-day simulation is scheduled for mid-2008 before the full-length 'voyage' begins in late 2008 or early 2009. A second 105-day simulation will be conducted if deemed necessary before the 520-day stint.

The study is being conducted jointly by the ESA and the Russian Institute of Biomedical Problems, and the simulations will take place in hermetically sealed modules in Moscow.

The 'ship' includes medical facilities, and the mission will include simulated illnesses.

Candidates must be nationals and residents of Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom or Canada. They must also be aged between 25 and 50, no more than 185cm tall, in good health, and have backgrounds and experience in medicine, biology, life support systems engineering, computer engineering, electronic engineering or mechanical engineering.

No smokers, no addicts, no prisoners, no special diets, and no relevant personal or family history of psychological disturbance or disease.

If you think you qualify and like the idea of being sealed up with just five other people for the best part of two years, grab an application form.