Updates Mars500 Updates

[SiberianTiger]

The first, 105 days long experiment in Mars-500 programme is about to kick off today, Roscosmos reports (English version of the news pending).

The picture of the experiment facility

from left to right are:

• Mars surface simulator chamber
• Mars lander simulator
• Utility Module (includes gym, greenhouse, storage, fridge, thermo chamber, sanitation)
• Living Module (includes 6 individual cabins, mess, the main control panel, kitchen, sanitation)
• Medical Module (includes living room, dining room/kitchen, medical workplaces, sanitation)

 

[Suzy]

ESA has a dedicated site (though only to its own participants): Mars500; IMBP has also updated its site (in Russian) (If only it were a real mission...)

 

[SiberianTiger]

Some images from the Mars-500 project:

The mess, looking towards the kitchen

The kitchen

An individual quarter

The medlab

A junction tube with airlock hatch at the right

A storage area

The complex's exterior

Preparing to meet the Martians :lol:

The farewell pic

 

[Sky Captain]

I have some thoughts

As I understand 500+ day mars mission time comes from assumption that chemical propulsion is going to be used. However realistically Mars mission are not going to happen before year 2025. - 2030. By that time there should be much better propulsion systems built and already tested in space. For example VASIMIR powered spacecraft could make Earth - Mars trip in 2 - 3 months. That would allow total mission time to be less than a year assuming no more than 6 month time spent on Mars surface. Also a lot more useful equipment could be carried with VASIMIR than with chemical rocket. Not to mention much less time spent in zero G and less exposure time to cosmic radiation reducing problems with crew health.

 

[tblaxland]

Some images from the Mars-500 project:

Thanks for the pics. It is an interesting choice of decor. I would have thought that a Mars mission is unlikely to have timber (or even fake timber) for weight and possibly hygiene reasons. I just wonder what psychological impact being surrounded by all that organic material would have, as opposed to something more inorganic.

Also, I couldn't help notice that the floors were quite worn in places. Have these modules been used before?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Also, I couldn't help notice that the floors were quite worn in places. Have these modules been used before?

Yes, for the first 14 days long experiment that took place in 2008.

 

[Suzy]

I just wonder what psychological impact being surrounded by all that organic material would have, as opposed to something more inorganic.

Possibly because the wood is warmer and not so sterile-looking? Nice woodwork, anyway! Hope it's treated to be flame-retardant, though?

The lack of windows might induce claustrophobia!

 

[SiberianTiger]

The lack of windows might induce claustrophobia!

There would be nothing pretty to look at out of the windows anyway. The building around the facility looks like a workshop-like structure.

 

[Moonwalker]

To me the habitats look like a mix of a russian submarine, a sauna, and, last but not least, big brother containers.

And I indeed seriously think this experiment is as useful as big brother. It exactly has nothing to do with traveling to Mars, less than ever through space. Not physically, nor psychically, because it happens on Earth within a safe and gravitational environment. Such an experiment would make more sense aboard the ISS. Another point why the ISS is almost useless too by the way.

Until the mid 2030's as a planned Mars mission window, while I think we won't fly to Mars until the 2050's anyway, the experiment will fade into obscurity with huge certainty...

---------- Post added at 03:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:51 PM ----------

The lack of windows might induce claustrophobia!

While claustrophobia often is misunderstood. It is not fear of narrow places, but fear of certain places, be it narrow or not. Even a desert or big rooms can cause claustrophobia to some people.

 

[SiberianTiger]

http://mars500.imbp.ru/105_sci_structure.html#

Research field                    Number of projects
                        Russia     ESA     Other agencies      Total

Clinical physiology       12        2            4               18

Psychology and
psychophysioloigy         11        6            5               22

Biochemistry, immunology
& biology                 16        3            1               20

Microbiology and
Sanitatry & Hygiene        5        -            1                6

Operating & Technology     5        -            1                6

Total                     49       11           12               72

---------- Post added at 20:06 ---------- Previous post was at 20:02 ----------

Just found an curious thing at http://mars500.imbp.ru/105_science.html

That's the list of the scientific experiments during the 105 days experiment.

Item #8 is:
"Research of male reproductive function in modeled Mars expedition conditions" - Smirnov O.A. Goncharova A.G.

rlyflag:

 

[Notebook]

Not long now:-

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars500/SEM3VX0OWUF_0.html

N.

 

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=291667&photo_id=343949&p=1&fr=0

Yesterday, on June 9, the 105 days long Mars flight simulation experiment has moved on to the third phase, which simulates a Mars orbit stay. During this phase, the crew is left only one channel of communication with the external world, which is sending and receiving emails, with mandatory 40 minutes delay between sending a message out and getting a reply. Also, the crew is now of full control over the life support system and other systems of the "space ship".

Up to now, the crew members have completed 70 scientific experiments according to the planned schedule. They have pointed to certain things that will have to be improved before starting the final, 520 days long experiment.

 

[TMac3000]

"It is mine and I can wash it as fast as I want, Sir!" :rofl:

That's...not...right. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

As far as the sexual aspect, I think the point is not that people need to have sex (celibacy is not detrimental to your health), but that if you have a mixed gender crew, they probably are going to have sex. The "urge" is not impossible to resist for a long period of time, but it is very difficult, and among people some of whose cultural/religious backgrounds don't place any taboo on premarital/extramarital sex, you can expect some boffin' here and there.

As for life in space, I can only say what others have already said. We keep astonauts aboard ISS for more than enough time to reach Mars. The trick is going to be carrying the necessary supplies in sufficient volume without making the ship too massive. And the biggest obstacle is, as always, $$$.

 

[tblaxland]

Looks spookily like a scene from the Big Brother TV show...

 

[tl8]

Looks spookily like a scene from the Big Brother TV show...

Haven't you heard, they are going to fund the mission by votes. Every week you can vote someone off the space craft, Only the most popular walks on Mars

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The 105 day Mars500 ends:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8150385.stm

 

[SiberianTiger]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE56D41Q20090714

Six end simulated Mars mission isolation

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Four Russians, a Frenchman and a German ended a simulated 105-day space trip in Moscow on Tuesday designed to test their responses in the kind of isolated surroundings they would experience in a manned mission to Mars.

Stepping out of their sealed compartments in a Moscow scientific complex, the crew members were ending one test just as space agencies step up preparations for a longer 520-day isolation experiment expected to start next year.

The six men were monitored constantly as they responded to physical tests in cramped conditions designed to better understand how humans would cope on a Mars mission, that would take at least 500 days.

All six smiled, waved and put their arms around each other as they emerged into the first sunlight they had seen since March 31 last, giving no indication that any personal animosities developed in the quarantined environment.

 

[Ark]

That's encouraging, they managed to avoid killing anyone.

 

[SiberianTiger]

The diary of Oliver Knickel and Cyrille Fournier, the European participants of the 105 days long preliminary mission of Mars-500 experiment (click on the links at right to read next chapters):
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars500/SEMQ50KTYRF_0.html

The final, 500 days long session is to begin in March, 2009. Application taking from volunteers is still open!

 

[tblaxland]

The final, 500 days long session is to begin in March, 2009.

2010?

Application taking from volunteers is still open!

You know, if I was still single I might do it. I think I would miss the broadband internet though...