Prepping for Mars Landing

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**WarOne**

International efforts to prep for a future Mars landing are now underway.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2380217,00.asp#

Volunteer "astronauts" in a 500-day mock mission to mars have "landed" on the surface of the Red Planet, a major milestone in the project.

The Mars500 mission is a $15 million project sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA), China, and Russia. Since June, the all male six-person crew has been sealed in a mock space ship at the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow in order to study the psychological effects and technical issues of such a long space journey. The crew is made up two Russians, two Europeans, and a Chinese person, most of whom are doctors and engineers.

"This is the start of getting fundamental behavioral ecology data from long-duration confinement," David Dinges, a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania conducting a study attached to Mars500, told MSNBC. "It's a rare opportunity."

On Saturday, three of the crew members set foot on Mars, which is actually a large room in the institute outfitted with faux Martian rocks and dirt. They will spend 10 days on "Mars," and simulate three "Marswalks." The other three crew members will remain "in orbit." Mission control has communication glitches and emergency situations planned to gauge how astronauts would react.

"Mars500 is a visionary experiment," ESA's director for human spaceflight Simonetta Di Pippo said in a Space.com report. "Europe is getting ready to make a step further in space exploration: Our technology and our science grow stronger every day. Mars500 today is only an enriching simulation, but we are working to make it real."

Space.com said that the volunteer astronauts, who are actually getting paid about $97,000 to participate in the year and a half long project, have routines similar to that of real spacemen. They work on maintenance jobs and experiments, exercise daily, and have two days off every week.

The Mars landing is the halfway point of the project, which will conclude in November.

**SagesStone**

the all male six-person crew

The crew is made up two Russians, two Europeans, and a Chinese person, most of whom are doctors and engineers.

The problem with this test is that they're just in a room with rocks. The real panicking wouldn't happen unless they were really there, but I guess it would figure some stuff out.

**Karon**

"GUYS WE LANDED"

"But I just ordered pizza..."

**wizard12**

Karon wrote:"GUYS WE LANDED"

"But I just ordered pizza..."

I recall when reading about the start of this project that the place is completely sealed. Nothing gets in or out (I'm not even sure if they're running off O2 produced inside the simulation or from an outside source).

I think they grow their own food in the simulation of a farming module (I don't know how long the carried supplies last, they may last the whole trip or may run out... who knows.)

And really I think this was an experiment to see how 5 people cope with each other for one and a half years while doing possibly stressing tasks (wouldn't want anyone killing each other up their would we?)

But then again, I share your skepticism. For starters the they have gravity, though some parts may be done in the swimming pool tanks that normal astronought training takes place in. On top of this, if something goes critically wrong they can walk out, or be dragged out if they have to.

I'm pretty sure Murphy's Law has a rule covering this but I can't think of the one...

**Jihadnik**

Am I the only one who is imagining Bio Dome?

**Elmodiddly**

All that expense and research when the easiest way of preparing for a Mars landing is to bend your knees.

**GalacticDefender**

On the actual Mars mission, they should bring the game Dead space, the movies 2001 a space odyssey, Alien, Pandorum, and event horizon, and have the computer randomly turn off the lights and play scenes from these. Then we'll see what happens.

**Lord Scythican**

GalacticDefender wrote:On the actual Mars mission, they should bring the game Dead space, the movies 2001 a space odyssey, Alien, Pandorum, and event horizon, and have the computer randomly turn off the lights and play scenes from these. Then we'll see what happens.

Is it strange, that I almost think that would be fun? Those are my favorite movies and game.

**KingCracker**

Not strange at all, hell that could be a fun amusement ride.

Ive seen this thing on the history channel once or twice. It seems cool, youve got to start somewhere. But really the only way to actually test this out, is in space, on the way there. You know, when your life is actually in danger. No one wants to be the first guy to die a hollywood death in space

**Frazzled**

See this is stupid. If we're having a proper landing,. they need to nuke the site from orbit first. We'll stop those pansy Marsies right in their tracks!

**rubiksnoob**

Sooooooo, this is essentially a $15 million LARP game.

**halonachos**

rubiksnoob wrote:Sooooooo, this is essentially a $15 million LARP game.

That's what it sounds like, but there were originally six and now there's only two europeans, two russians, and one chinese guy left. That means one of the original six died.

Besides NASA already filmed the Mars landing and is prepared to release it a day before the actual ESA Mars mission launches.

**Phototoxin**

LoL

But yes essentially $15million LARP

**Melissia**

NASA -- LARPing, for SCIENCE!

**Lord Scythican**

It does sound fun though. I wonder if they let them contact people outside of the experiment? Maybe some sort of relay where they can say something to a loved one, but they delay the messages to coincide with how long it would take for the message to reach earth for real.

**snurl**

So two russians, two europeans, and a chinese fellow walk into a bar......
Is this some kind of joke?

**KingCracker**

Mars wants to know which ones the Rabbi

**Asherian Command**

Yep. I like this idea. finnally going to a planet. The first time a human has ever gone to another planet.

**KingCracker**

Pretty damn exciting though right? I know how pumped I was the first time I saw pics of Mars and of Titan, one of Saturns moons. Seriously the day we send people to Mars will be cool, but the day they land will just be awesome

**Asherian Command**

KingCracker wrote:Pretty damn exciting though right? I know how pumped I was the first time I saw pics of Mars and of Titan, one of Saturns moons. Seriously the day we send people to Mars will be cool, but the day they land will just be awesome

Yes i agree. I love NASA its one of the few societies that I know of that dreams big and achieves it. It has to be my most favorite organization as they went to the moon and soon to mars.

**VermGho5t**

Stupidly foolish step. We need to be on the moon first to get acclimated to the harsh environments of terrestrial space AND THEN move onto Mars.

**Ahtman**

Wait, this thread isn't about a Bruno Mars concert.

**Albatross**

Awww, son-of-a....

**GalacticDefender**

Asherian Command wrote:
KingCracker wrote:Pretty damn exciting though right? I know how pumped I was the first time I saw pics of Mars and of Titan, one of Saturns moons. Seriously the day we send people to Mars will be cool, but the day they land will just be awesome

Yes i agree. I love NASA its one of the few societies that I know of that dreams big and achieves it. It has to be my most favorite organization as they went to the moon and soon to mars.

Yeah if our president would fund the program. (no, I'm not anti- Obama, I just WILDLY disagree with his outlook on space. And it seems that it doesn't matter to him. "Let's cancel Constellation so we'll have no plan for NASA's future! That's a great idea!

)

**KingCracker**

Its ok, you can hate Obama, your mostly safe here

But ya, I had a huge "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!? They are cutting NASA funding?! but?!? THEY!??? HOW WILL??!??!?!? Seriously?!" moment after hearing about not backing them. Huge sarcastic thumbs up/stupid face there

**GalacticDefender**

No, I don't hate Obama at all. The conservative slant kinda bothers me here. But the whole thing with nasa just REALLY PISSES ME OFF!!!!!!! RAEG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**KingCracker**

Its ok, hes an asshat and every American regrets voting for him. The only problem is, if you voted for the other guy, not only would we have Bush version 2.0, but Palin in there as well. Thats whats called a double edged sword

**Amaya**

I wonder how many peopled voted for Obama just to avoid the chance of Palin becoming president.

**KingCracker**

I wont lie, it was a VERY tough decision for me. The candidate I wanted was thrown out, so I was stuck. do I pick this jerk off douche bag? Or that jerk off douche bag?

Thats not the questions you want to ask yourself on a question with only 2 options.

**Tyyr**

VermGho5t wrote:Stupidly foolish step. We need to be on the moon first to get acclimated to the harsh environments of terrestrial space AND THEN move onto Mars.

Moon =/= Mars.

While I'm all for going back to the moon, there are lots of good reasons to do it, training for Mars isn't one of them.