Mars500

The Mars500 project was an international ground-based experiment conducted from 2007 to 2011 that simulated a human mission to Mars. The primary goal was to study the psychological and physiological effects of a long-duration isolation on a small crew. The experiment was carried out by the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow, Russia, with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The mission involved a crew of six volunteers who lived in a mock-up spacecraft module for 520 days. This duration was chosen to replicate the estimated time for a round trip to Mars, including the time spent on the Martian surface. During the experiment, the crew followed a strict schedule that included scientific research, exercise, and daily tasks similar to those expected on a real space mission. They communicated with the outside world with a simulated time delay, mimicking the actual communication lag with Mars.

Throughout the Mars500 study, researchers monitored various aspects of the crew's health and well-being, including their sleep patterns, mood, cognitive performance, and immune system responses. The data collected provided valuable insights into the challenges of long-duration spaceflight and helped in developing strategies to mitigate potential risks for future human explorers. The project was a significant step towards understanding the human element of interplanetary travel.