ESA Seeking Volunteers for Mars Trip Simulation

The European Space Agency (Esa) is seeking volunteers for a simulated human trip to Mars, in which six crew spend 17 months in an isolation tank. They will live and work in a series of interlocked modules at a research institute in Moscow. Once the hatches are closed, the crew’s only contact with the outside world is a radio link to “Earth” with a realistic delay of 40 minutes.

It sounds like Big Brother, but there are no plans to televise the test.

In all, 12 European volunteers will be needed. They must be aged 25-50, be in good health, have “high motivation” and stand up to 185cm tall. Smokers, or those with other addictions, to alcohol or illicit drugs, for example, will be rejected. Esa is also looking for a working knowledge of both English and Russian.

“We will do pre-selection, medical tests, psychological tests, etc. But at the end, you really have to see how they react in as close to a real situation as possible on Earth,” explained Mr Gardini.

He added that the results would help define the selection criteria for a future Mars mission. “This is the beginning; it will be a long time before we go to Mars,” the Esa official said.

BBC

Serious applicants are asked to fill out the application form, which can be obtained by download from:
spaceflight.esa.int/callforcandidates

The completed and signed application form should be sent to: Mars500@esa.int

Submission deadline: September 30th, 2007