This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7974282.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mars 'journey' experiment begins Mars 'journey' experiment begins
(about 7 hours later)
A Big Brother-style experiment to test whether humans could travel to Mars and back has begun in Moscow.A Big Brother-style experiment to test whether humans could travel to Mars and back has begun in Moscow.
Six volunteers from Russia, France and Germany have been locked into a capsule to simulate the conditions of a manned flight to the planet lasting two years.Six volunteers from Russia, France and Germany have been locked into a capsule to simulate the conditions of a manned flight to the planet lasting two years.
Those who survive more than 100 days experiencing the same isolation and claustrophobia as astronauts will earn a $20,000 (£14,000) reward.Those who survive more than 100 days experiencing the same isolation and claustrophobia as astronauts will earn a $20,000 (£14,000) reward.
If any of the six men get homesick, they will be allowed to come out early.If any of the six men get homesick, they will be allowed to come out early.
Inside the mock space craft the volunteer astronauts will also have the same daily work routine and the same communication problems with mission control that real astronauts face. Inside the mock spacecraft, the volunteer astronauts will also have the same daily work routine and the same communication problems with mission control that real astronauts face.
CAPSULE 'ASTRONAUTS' Sergei Ryazansky, Russian cosmonautOleg Artemyez, Russian cosmonautAlexei Baranov, Russian doctorAlexei Shpakov, Russian sports physiotherapistCyrille Fournier, French pilotOliver Knickel, German engineerCAPSULE 'ASTRONAUTS' Sergei Ryazansky, Russian cosmonautOleg Artemyez, Russian cosmonautAlexei Baranov, Russian doctorAlexei Shpakov, Russian sports physiotherapistCyrille Fournier, French pilotOliver Knickel, German engineer
That means, for example, the time delay of 20 minutes that a spacecraft near to Mars would encounter sending an astronaut's voice back to earth. That means, for example, the time delay of 20 minutes that a spacecraft near to Mars would encounter sending an astronaut's voice back to Earth.
"The experiment won't be fun but it is an honour," Sergei Ryazansky, the Russian commander of the mock space craft, admitted to the BBC. "The experiment won't be fun but it is an honour," Sergei Ryazansky, the Russian commander of the mock spacecraft, admitted to the BBC.
Although any of the volunteers can leave if they can not stand it any longer, every effort will be made to persuade them to stay for the full 105 days, he added. Although any of the volunteers could leave if they could stand it no longer, every effort would be made to persuade them to stay for the full 105 days, he added.
"How do I feel? I am very motivated. There is a kind of relief. We have been working for a long time and finally were are getting to the start point," said Cyrille Fournier just hours before entering the capsule."How do I feel? I am very motivated. There is a kind of relief. We have been working for a long time and finally were are getting to the start point," said Cyrille Fournier just hours before entering the capsule.
The BBC's Richard Galpin gets a sneak preview of the capsuleThe BBC's Richard Galpin gets a sneak preview of the capsule
"The challenge is to live with the same people for a long period but it is a positive challenge. I think we are going to learn a lot about each other," his fellow volunteer, Oliver Knickel, added."The challenge is to live with the same people for a long period but it is a positive challenge. I think we are going to learn a lot about each other," his fellow volunteer, Oliver Knickel, added.
The experiment is a joint project between the Institute for Medical-Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the European Space Agency.The experiment is a joint project between the Institute for Medical-Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the European Space Agency.
"This is a preliminary short experiment, while the main 520-day research is scheduled to begin at the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010," said Pavel Morgunov, a spokesman for the Moscow institute. "This is a preliminary, short experiment while the main 520-day research is scheduled to begin at the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010," said Pavel Morgunov, a spokesman for the Moscow institute.