Russia Locks Up Six For Moon Flight Simulation
Sumaira FH Published November 07, 2017 | 09:05 PM
Three men and three women were sealed in an artificial spacecraft unit in Moscow on Tuesday in a simulation of a 17-day flight to the Moon, a preparation for long-term missions
Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2017 ) :Three men and three women were sealed in an artificial spacecraft unit in Moscow on Tuesday in a simulation of a 17-day flight to the Moon, a preparation for long-term missions.
The experiment is the first of several in the SIRIUS (Scientific International Research In a Unique terrestrial Station) programme, which over the course of five years will gradually increase the isolation experiment to 365 days.
Russia's Institute for Biomedical Problems has partnered with NASA for the project that recreates the conditions for a flight to the Moon, one loop around it and a trip back to Earth. Oleg Orlov, the head of the project, said it would run parallel to the development of deep space aircraft.
"By mid-2020s we will probably be ready for the actual flight," he told AFP. Among the goals of the experiment is finding out what gender ratio is optimal for a long-term space mission, he said.
"This is the first time in Russian or Soviet history when a space crew has included more than one woman," the project's psychologist Vadim Gushchin told AFP. Most of the crew are researchers or cosmonauts in training from Russia.
There is only one foreigner: a German. The team has been locked in a 250 cubic metre (8,800 cubic feet) module after promising to do everything to complete their mission, which will also examine psychological and physical effects of isolation.
"I'm convinced that we'll be able to complete all of our tasks," said commander Mark Serov, before disappearing into the unit. Russia has completed a number of on-land isolation experiments, including locking three men in a 24 cubic metre metal box for a year in 1967.
The most recent long-term on-land mission was a simulated flight to Mars which locked an international crew of six men in a module for 520 days, ending in November 2011.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
CNICs issuance, renewal: Naqvi vows to start facility at UC level
Shaheen Shah Afridi appears in 50th edition of PCB Podcast
SC to take up suo moto case on Vawda’s press conference today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 17 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 17 May 2024
Ukraine trying to 'stabilise' front as Russia pushes northeast
SPSC announces final results of Combined Competitive Examination 2020
Slovak PM is able to speak few sentences in serious condition
Agriculture dept using all resources to obtain cotton sowing target
Tunisia president blasts foreign criticism of arrests
Court seeks arguments in PTI founder's bail plea
'Good neighbour': The small-town Slovak writer suspected of PM shooting
More Stories From World
-
Crisis-ridden Boeing hopes for quiet annual meeting
15 minutes ago -
IEA warns of key energy mineral shortage risk
24 minutes ago -
Rapidus 'last opportunity' to put Japan back on global chip map
44 minutes ago -
Brazil to host 2027 Women's World Cup as Gaza overshadows FIFA meeting
45 minutes ago -
Crisis-ridden Boeing prepares for turbulence at annual meeting
45 minutes ago -
Coppola faces press after epic 'Megalopolis' splits Cannes
1 hour ago
-
Munir Akram briefs NDU's delegation about key issues on UN agenda, highlights Kashmir
2 hours ago -
Tokyo's Nikkei index closes lower
2 hours ago -
N. Korea fires at least one 'unidentified ballistic missile': Seoul
2 hours ago -
French police kill man trying to set fire to synagogue: minister
2 hours ago -
Ukraine hits Russia in overnight drone wave, two dead
2 hours ago -
Costner, Gere, Demi Moore: Hollywood icons on Cannes comeback trail
3 hours ago