Crew emerges after 520 days in Mars simulation cell
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The six-man crew endured cramped quarters and dozens of experiments during their 520 days inside the Mars simulation cell.
They've spent the past 520 days inside this windowless capsule, enduring cramped quarters and all sorts of tests meant to simulate life on Mars.
On Friday, looking pale and somewhat bleary eyed, the six man crew emerged from their mock spaceship for the first time in more than a year. Throngs of media were on hand in Moscow to capture the first images of the Mars 500 crew.
SOUNDBITE: Crew member Wang Yue from China saying:
"Hello everyone, nice to meet you again, after 520 days we are finally back."
The point of the $15 million experiment? To determine whether a person can stay healthy and sane during more than six months rocketing to the Red Planet. The international crew endured more than a 100 different experiments, limited showers, and were required to submit daily blood and urine samples. At one point, crew members donned the 70-pound spacesuits to clomp around in a dark sandy room to simulate mean to replicate the surface of Mars.
Perhaps most notable about this crew was was the lack of major conflict or drama during their stay. A previous experiment ended in 2000 ended in disaster after two participants got into a fistfight and a third tried to forcibly kiss a female crew member.
SOUNDBITE: Mars 500 Crew Member Diego Urbina saying:
"On the Mars 500 mission we have achieved on earth the longest space voyage ever so that humankind can one day greet a new dawn on the surface of a distant, reachable planet."
Space officials say the technology required to protect the astronauts for a trip to Mars is still decades away.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.
The six-man crew endured cramped quarters and dozens of experiments during their 520 days inside the Mars simulation cell.
They've spent the past 520 days inside this windowless capsule, enduring cramped quarters and all sorts of tests meant to simulate life on Mars.
On Friday, looking pale and somewhat bleary eyed, the six man crew emerged from their mock spaceship for the first time in more than a year. Throngs of media were on hand in Moscow to capture the first images of the Mars 500 crew.
SOUNDBITE: Crew member Wang Yue from China saying:
"Hello everyone, nice to meet you again, after 520 days we are finally back."
The point of the $15 million experiment? To determine whether a person can stay healthy and sane during more than six months rocketing to the Red Planet. The international crew endured more than a 100 different experiments, limited showers, and were required to submit daily blood and urine samples. At one point, crew members donned the 70-pound spacesuits to clomp around in a dark sandy room to simulate mean to replicate the surface of Mars.
Perhaps most notable about this crew was was the lack of major conflict or drama during their stay. A previous experiment ended in 2000 ended in disaster after two participants got into a fistfight and a third tried to forcibly kiss a female crew member.
SOUNDBITE: Mars 500 Crew Member Diego Urbina saying:
"On the Mars 500 mission we have achieved on earth the longest space voyage ever so that humankind can one day greet a new dawn on the surface of a distant, reachable planet."
Space officials say the technology required to protect the astronauts for a trip to Mars is still decades away.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.