Mission to Mars?
By Hannah Isom
Six Russian volunteers are required to depart on a mission to Mars (well, Moscow actually). The lucky guinea pigs will spend 500 days (that's 18 months) locked up in an airtight capsule, breathing processed air and eating sterile food (Mars bars presumably).
The "Mars cruiser", will actually resemble a three bedroom flat crossed with a stage set for a reality TV show, with CCTV cameras and microphones in every corner. The volunteers will be able to contact the outside world via email, but there will be no sending out for a pizza, as the doors of the space ship will be sealed for the full 18 months of the experiment.
This will be the first opportunity to see how astronauts would cope without any outside help for 500 days. In most current space missions shuttles stay within the Earth's orbit, so extra supplies can be sent up if necessary.
Despite the demanding nature of this experiment, the entry requirements for applicants seem pretty lax. All that they ask is that volunteers are of fairly young age, in good health, fluent in English and have a University diploma. For any budding graduates looking for a gap year experience with a difference, applications will be accepted from next week.
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