Simulated Mars mission 'returns' to Earth

[The Saltman]

Six volunteer astronauts emerged from a 'trip' to Mars on Friday, waving and grinning widely after spending 520 days in seclusion.

The six, who are between ages 27 and 38, lived in a tight space the size of six buses in a row, said Rosita Suenson, the agency's program officer for human spaceflight.

During the period, the crew dressed in blue jumpsuits showered on rare occasions and survived on canned food. Messages from friends and family came with a lag based on the simulated distance to Earth.

While they had a few luxuries -- a Christmas tree and a Halloween party -- they spent most of their seclusion gathering data to help future space travel.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/04/world/europe/russia-simulatedmars-trip/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[KBRed]

Glad a 'Chinese person' got to partake.

[fitty76]

There's an article about it in Wired this month. I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

[Guest Irv]

What happens in a simulated mars orbit stays in simulated mars orbit

[pawsandclaws]

Sounds like the occupy group.

[The_Cannon]

520 days? To pretend to go to Mars?

That Sh*t CRAY