Updates Mars500 Updates

[SiberianTiger]

2010?

Yes, 2010, certainly. My typo.

 

[ijuin]

I have some thoughts

As I understand 500+ day mars mission time comes from assumption that chemical propulsion is going to be used. However realistically Mars mission are not going to happen before year 2025. - 2030. By that time there should be much better propulsion systems built and already tested in space. For example VASIMIR powered spacecraft could make Earth - Mars trip in 2 - 3 months. That would allow total mission time to be less than a year assuming no more than 6 month time spent on Mars surface. Also a lot more useful equipment could be carried with VASIMIR than with chemical rocket. Not to mention much less time spent in zero G and less exposure time to cosmic radiation reducing problems with crew health.

We could build a VASIMR propelled spacecraft by 2020 if it weren't for the political blocks against launching nuclear reactors into space.

 

[Suzy]

There was a post at the Mars-500 blog (in Russian) that a Chinese volunteer might be included in Mars-500.

From 15 to 18 December 2009 a meeting was held between IBMP specialists and Chinese Cosmonauts Training Center (KTSPK). The meeting was devoted to discussing issues related to the possible participation of Chinese experts in the project "Mars-500". As a result of the meeting was agreed on the possibility of inclusion in the scientific program of the 520-day isolation in the framework of the project "Mars-500" three scientific methods. In addition, discussed the possibility of inclusion in the crew of a Chinese volunteer.

 

[Suzy]

Mars-500 finalists named (via):

• 44-year-old Boris Yegorov
• 30-year-old Andrei Zhirnov
• 32-year-old Alexander Sukhov
• 37-year-old Mikhail Sidelnikov
• 38-year-old Alexei Sitev

Two Russian doctors:

• surgeon Sukhrob Kamolov, 32
• general practitioner Alexander Smolevsky, 33

Foreign candidates:

• 34-year-old Archanmael Gaillard from France
• Belgian Jerome Clevers, 30
• Italian Diego Urbina, 27
• 27-year-old Wang Yue from China

 

[Enjo]

You guys should try a trip on a fishing boat.

AHAHAHAH Bang on, mate! I know what you are saying. Last time I had a trip on sailing boats with some people whom I didn't know earlier, they all seemed kind and all that, but after we all started drinking and not getting enough sleep, some people started to hate each other, some "equal popularity groups" were formed and I was happy that it ended sooner than 105 days Never ever!

However you could tell who's going to like whom in just the first day, hence it's not that hard to eliminate total emotional fools in a first selection.

 

[Notebook]

Bit more info:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM4VFFKZ6G_index_0.html

N.

 

[Notebook]

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9W219Y8G_index_0.html

N.

 

[tblaxland]

Is the "launch date" selected yet?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Is the "launch date" selected yet?

No.

 

[Suzy]

I was thinking that they won't see sunlight or nature for nearly 2 years, and no further than the walls of their rooms. I wonder what the long-term effects of that will be on their health (mentally and physically).

 

[SiberianTiger]

I was thinking that they won't see sunlight or nature for nearly 2 years, and no further than the walls of their rooms. I wonder what the long-term effects of that will be on their health (mentally and physically).

This is what's up to study, I believe - together with a long mission's logistics.

 

[Suzy]

Final crew selection announced: Sukhrob Kamolov, Romain Charles, Diego Urbina, Wang Yue, Alexey Sitev, Alexandr Smoleevskiy, Mikhail Sinelnikov. Mission (lock-in) begins 3 June until November 2011. They will receive 3 million rubles each.

 

[tblaxland]

They will receive 3 million rubles each.

It doesn't seem a lot for a 24 hour/7 day job, especially for engineers and doctors.

 

[SiberianTiger]

---------- Post added at 11:50 ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 ----------

It doesn't seem a lot for a 24 hour/7 day job, especially for engineers and doctors.

It's very generous by Russian standards, especially for engineers and doctors. For instance, engineers who develop T-50, work for average salary of about 230,000 rubles/year, and this is going to be cut too. Only 50 of the 12,000 people involved in producing the plane has ever got a one time bonus (comparable to their monthly salary). Now guess what's the Russian military export's upside.

 

[Suzy]

It doesn't seem a lot for a 24 hour/7 day job, especially for engineers and doctors.

Using a currency converter, it's nearly USD$100,000 - nothing to complain about!

If anyone can read Chinese, they (China Manned Space Engineering) have an official Mars-500 site.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Using a currency converter, it's nearly USD$100,000 - nothing to complain about!

If anyone can read Chinese, they (China Manned Space Engineering) have an official Mars-500 site.

And for 3m roubles one can buy a 80 m^2 flat in most of Russian cities, except for Moscow, St. Petersburg and their suburbs. In Moscow, you'd need 3 times as much. Just think of it: three virtual flights to Mars and back and you are a happy owner!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

BBC News: "Unique Mars endurance experiment unveiled in Russia".

 

[tblaxland]

And for 3m roubles one can buy a 80 m^2 flat in most of Russian cities, except for Moscow, St. Petersburg and their suburbs. In Moscow, you'd need 3 times as much. Just think of it: three virtual flights to Mars and back and you are a happy owner!

I guess its all relatively to the local market. Median prices for all properties sold in Sydney last weekend was a lofty AUD 849,000 (23 million rubles according to Google). Also, if you are on this mission you get full room and board plus, hopefully, entertainment

 

[Unstung]

I guess its all relatively to the local market. Median prices for all properties sold in Sydney last weekend was a lofty AUD 849,000 (23 million rubles according to Google). Also, if you are on this mission you get full room and board plus, hopefully, entertainment

Hopefully entertainment, maybe the rendezvous radar.
$100,000 is not great pay over 500 full, 24/7 work (sleeping) days.
And ESA still has yet to send someone into space, this data should become useful by 2061 at this rate.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

BBC News Magazine: "A space odyssey of the mind".