Article Images Mars500 diary: a typical day   Playing games and socialising is an important part of everyday life inside the isolation facility at IBMP in Moscow, Russia   ESA-selected Mars500 crewmember Oliver Knickel is ready for the 'Pilot' experiment. Knickel is one of six crewmembers to enter a special isolation facility at the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow on 31 March 2009 for a 105-day stay as part of the Mars500 study.   ESA-selected Mars500 crewmember Oliver Knickel exercising on the bicycle ergometer.   The Mars500 crew for the 105-day study prepares to enter the isolation facility on 31 March 2009. The crew will remain in the habitat at the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) until mid-July. During their stay, the crew will experience all aspects of a mission to the Red Planet, including launch, the outward journey, arrival at Mars and, after an excursion to the surface, the long journey home. The crewmembers will act as subjects in scientific investigations to assess the effect that isolation has on various psychological and physiological aspects, such as stress, hormone regulation and immunity, sleep quality, mood and the effectiveness of dietary supplements. The 105-day study precedes a full simulation of a mission to Mars, due to start late in 2009. This will see another six-member crew sealed in the same chamber to experience a complete 520-day Mars mission simulation. Release date: 23 June 2009