Technical supervisor Yevgeny Demin told Novaya Gazeta, a leading daily, about the project, which is to be held in Moscow.
Demin said an expedition to Mars might be launched in 2010-2016. "U.S. and EU experts are more cautious, saying this will happen in 2030-2060," he said. "But one thing is clear: We must now conduct the first simulated long-duration Martian flight." Therefore, the Russian Federal Space Agency will recruit volunteers to take part in the experiment this fall.
Methods to guarantee the physical and psychological health of the "crew" will be tested during this unprecedented experiment. Telemedicine will be used for the first time in the history of manned space flights, whereas the would-be cosmonauts will monitor spacecraft atmosphere and the microbiological situation independently.
Demin said the simulated mission would last 500 days, but could be prolonged to 700 days if it proved to be successful. The experimental unisex crew will include six people aged between 25 and 50 of different nationalities.
Demin said the simulated Martian flight would help scientists find out whether or not cosmonauts can survive on Mars. "This will be the first time our scientists will come close to a real flight to Mars," the technical supervisor said. "A series of other experiments will follow: We will test model spacecraft, and conduct an experiment with real equipment for the Mars program flight, preferably inside a real model Martian spacecraft."
Demin said the federal budget would finance the first Martian experiment.
