Mission accomplished: 105-day Mars mission simulation ends in Moscow


Press conference after completion 105-day Mars500 study
 
The Mars500 crew attend a press conference shortly after completing their 105-day Mars mission simulation inside a special isolation facility at the Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow, Russia. Their mission is part of the Mars500 programme that will help us to understand the psychological and medical aspects of long spaceflights. The six-strong crew includes two ESA crewmembers: Oliver Knickel, a mechanical engineer in the German army, and Cyrille Fournier, an airline pilot from France.

Six crewmembers
 
Exterior view IBMP isolation facility
 
An exterior view of isolation facility at the Russian Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow, Russia. The facility is host to the Mars500 study that will help us to understand the psychological and medical aspects of long spaceflights. A 105-day Mars simulation was held between March and July 2009, a longer 520-day study will follow in early 2010.

Mars500 press conference following 105-day study
 
The crew attend a press conference following the completion their 105-day Mars mission simulation inside a special isolation facility at the Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow, Russia. Their mission is part of the Mars500 programme that will help us to understand the psychological and medical aspects of long spaceflights. The six-strong crew includes two ESA crewmembers: Oliver Knickel, a mechanical engineer in the German army, and Cyrille Fournier, an airline pilot from France.

Science
 
Mars500 crew passes halfway point
 
The Mars500 crew passes the halfway point in their 105-day Mars mission simulation.

Oliver Knickel following completion of 105-day study
 
The Mars500 crew attend a press conference following the completion of their 105-day Mars mission simulation inside a special isolation facility at the Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow, Russia. Their mission is part of the Mars500 programme that will help us to understand the psychological and medical aspects of long spaceflights.

Left to right: Oliver Knickel, ESA-selected Mars500 participant, Simonetta Di Pippo, ESA's Director of Human Spaceflight.

520-day study
 
Mars500 crew following 105-day study
 
The Mars500 crew shortly after completing their 105-day Mars mission simulation inside a special isolation facility at the Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow, Russia. Their mission is part of the Mars500 programme that will help us to understand the psychological and medical aspects of long spaceflights. The six-strong crew includes two ESA crewmembers: Oliver Knickel, a mechanical engineer in the German army, and Cyrille Fournier, an airline pilot from France.



Release date: 26 February 2010