Mars500 astronaut Diego Urbina treks across simulated Martian terrain. Urbina is carrying a tool originally designed for Soviet manned lunar missions in the 1960s and 1970s that never came to pass.
An exterior view of isolation facility at the Russian Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow, Russia. The facility is host to the Mars500 study that will help us to understand the psychological and medical aspects of long spaceflights. A 105-day Mars simulation was held between March and July 2009, a longer 520-day study began in 2010.
The Mars500 crew poses for a fun portrait with red protective goggles.
Crew training for 'Marswalk' at the simulated martian terrain of the Mars500 experiment. The terrain, about 10 m long and 6 m wide, is covered with reddish sand and is built to resemble the surface at Gusev crater. On the ‘surface’, they conducted simulated scientific research by driving a rover and working with sensors to gather physical and chemical measurements.
The 6-man crew of the Mars500 mission, a 500-day simulated mission to Mars, poses for a fun photo on Chinese New Year in February 2011.
Diego Urbana gives a video tour of the Mars500 habitat in Moscow, where he and five other crew members are simulating a 520-day trip to the Red Planet.
This infographic details the Mars500 mock mission to Mars.
Members of the Mars500 crew share a meal together.
April Fool's Day (April 1, 2011): Diego Urbina (@diegou) of the Mars500 project tweeted on April 1, 2011: "http://yfrog.com/h2d2m77j Finally fixed the anti-gravity generation device! Finalmente abbiamo sistemato il sistema anti-G! YES."
Mars500 crewmembers testing their spacesuits out before a simulated journey to the Martian surface.
Members of the Mars500 crew prepare an EEG recording. EEG (electroencephalography) is a recording of electrical activity along the scalp produced by the firing of neurons within the brain).
Testing a Martian version of the Russian-built Orlan spacesuit for the Mars 500 simulated missions to Mars. The suit has been modified for use in Earth gravity.
From left to right and top to bottom: Sukhrob Kamolov, Romain Charles, Diego Urbina, Wang Yue, Alexey Sitev, Alexandr Smoleevskiy, Mikhail Sinelnikov Press conference on the announcement of the crew of 520-day isolation.
This view, released by Russia's Federal Space Agency, reveals the living quarters of the planned Mars500 simulated mission to Mars.
The first Mars500 crew for an initial 105-day experiment prepares to enter the isolation facility on March 31, 2009.
A schematic of the 2,150-square-foot facility where volunteers will carry out a simulated mission to Mars. "Module 1" is the medical module, "Module 2" is the living quarters, "Module 3" is the Mars landing module and "Module 4" is the storage module.
Romain smiling happily with a cardboard Christmas tree and socks full of presents.
Crew training for 'Marswalk' at the simulated martian terrain of the Mars500 experiment. The terrain, about 10 m long and 6 m wide, is covered with reddish sand and is built to resemble the surface at Gusev crater.
Mar500 crew made a greeting card to celebrate their 100th day in isolation. It addressed to their followers on the internet.
Diego and Romain preparing an experiment inside the Mars500 facility.
Romain, Alexey and Sukhrob doing their daily training.
Daily ration of one Mars500 crew member.
View inside the food storage module of the Mars500 mission.
Diego Urbina holding an ESA flag prior to his "Marswalk."
Photo taken during the first EVA.
Mars500 photo taken by Diego during the first EVA.
Hatch to the Martian lander.
Alexandr is watering the plants in the greenhouse. Gardening is not only way to to remember life on Earth, but also provides the crew with fresh food.
Diego with a medical experiment.
Commander's brains being examined during the Mars500 mission.
Another crew photo.
Wang with the plants.
The Mars500 crew poses shortly after the hatch of their mock spacecraft was opened on Nov. 4, 2011, after 17 months of isolation.
The simulated mission to Mars has ended after 17 months. Mars500's six volunteers stepped out of their 'spacecraft' today to be welcomed by the waiting scientists – happy that the venture had worked even better than expected. This image was taken from the webcast originating in Moscow.
Commander Alexey Sitev reports to flight directors after the "arrival." The hatch of the Mars500 facility had been closed since June 2010. It was finally opened on November 4, 2011, after 520 days of isolation.
