Simulation of life on Mars: the end of a year of isolation for six volunteers – Sciences et Avenir

Los Angeles (AFP) – The six volunteers who were isolated for a year to Hawaii to collect information useful for when NASA will send astronauts to Mars ended their Sunday experience

<. p> three men and three women were confined since August 28, 2015 in a dome 11 meters in diameter and six meters high on the north and arid coast of Mauna Loa volcano.

the crew consisted of a french astrobiologist, a German physicist and four Americans. a pilot, an architect, a doctor / journalist and a scientist specializing in soils

a video shows coming out of the dome before asking for selfies with visitors. The organizers have distributed their fresh fruit and vegetables.

The French Cyprien Verseux said he was “very excited to find sensations such as walking outdoors, meet strangers and eat fresh produce “.

the most difficult for single was” monotony “, has he explained in an interview on Periscope, advising potential volunteers coming to take books with them.

he said he was satisfied with the results of the experiment.

“a Mars mission is realistic in the near future,” he argued. “The technical and psychological problems can be overcome.”

Another participant, American Tristan Bassingthwaighte told that members were involved in hobbies such as salsa or ukulele.

“If you can work on something that participates in your personal development … you do not get mad,” he noted.

the participants in the experiment were not not experience seasonal changes, they could go out with a spacesuit.

the German Christiane Heinicke explained that his main work was focused on the volcanic soil water extraction, which the mineral composition is very similar to that of Mars.

the dome was located in an area with little vegetation and no pets. The team was locked August 28, 2015.

Men and women each had a small room, with space for a cot and a desk. They ate cheese powder or tuna cans and had limited access to the Internet.

The US space agency wanted to learn as many things as cohesion and psychological evolution of the members of such cut mission in the world. She leads the isolation scenarios on land, a program called HI-SEAS, before attempting to send astronauts to the Red Planet, she hopes to make in the 2030s.

Two other HI-SEAS missions are scheduled in January 2017 and 2018 and will last at least eight months. Organizers are already looking for volunteers

. Source: AFP