epa02162542 Volunteers of simulation experiment of 520-day mission to Mars (L-R front row): Cosmonaut training centre specialist Alexei Sitev, military doctor Alexei Smoleyevsky, cosmonaut training centre engineer Mikhail Sinelnikov, (L-R rear row): cardiologist Sukhrob Kamolov, European Space Agency specialists Charles Romani of France and Diego Urbina of Italy, Chinese astronaut training centre specialist wang Yue, pose for the media after they were introduced as participants of the project at Moscow's Research centre of Medical and Biological problems, Russia, 18 may 2010. Six volunteers (one of the presented team is still a back up pilot) will be isolated in a ground space module for 520 days (240 days flight to Mars, 240- return back and 30 days on Mars) playing a role of a crew of space vehicle. the experiment starts in June 2010. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

epa02162544 A volunteer of simulation experiment of 520-day mission to Mars European Space Agency specialist Charles Romani of France poses for the media after the entire team (three Russians, two ESA specialists and one Chinese) have been introduced at Moscow's Research centre of Medical and Biological problems, Russia, 18 may 2010. Six volunteers (one of the presented team is still a back up pilot) will be isolated in a ground space module for 520 days (240 days flight to Mars, 240- return back and 30 days on Mars) playing a role of a crew of space vehicle. the experiment starts in June 2010. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

epa02162547 Volunteers of simulation experiment of 520-day mission to Mars (L-R): Cosmonaut training centre specialist Alexei Sitev, cardiologist Sukhrob Kamolov, military doctor Alexei Smoleyevsky, cosmonaut training centre engineer Mikhail Sinelnikov, , European Space Agency specialists Diego Urbina of Italy and Charles Romani of France, Chinese astronaut training centre specialist wang Yue, attend a press conference after they were introduced as participants of the project at Moscow's Research centre of Medical and Biological problems, Russia, 18 may 2010. Six volunteers (one of the presented team is still a back up pilot) will be isolated in a ground space module for 520 days (240 days flight to Mars, 240- return back and 30 days on Mars) playing a role of a crew of space vehicle. the experiment starts in June 2010. EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

epa02170974 A crewmember of 520-day simulating flight to Mars, European Space Agency specialist Diego Urbani (R) of Italy attends a training at Biomedical Problems Institute in Moscow, Russia 24 May 2010. Six volunteers will have to spend 520 days (240 days - flight to Mars, 240 day - flight back, 30 day - work on Mars) in absolute isolation playing the role of a crew flying to Mars. The experiment is a part of a major research venture to simulate a manned flight to Mars. EPA/-

epa02170971 Crewmembers of 520-day simulating flight to Mars, European Space Agency specialist Diego Urbani (R) of Italy and military doctor Alexei Smoleyevsky (L) of Russia attend a training at a ground imitating the Mars surface at Biomedical Problems Institute in Moscow, Russia 24 May 2010. Six volunteers will have to spend 520 days (240 days - flight to Mars, 240 day - flight back, 30 day - work on Mars) in absolute isolation playing the role of a crew flying to Mars. The experiment is a part of a major research venture to simulate a manned flight to Mars. EPA/-

epa02170973 A crewmember of 520-day simulating flight to Mars, European Space Agency specialist Diego Urbani (front L) of Italy attends a training at Biomedical Problems Institute in Moscow, Russia 24 May 2010. Six volunteers will have to spend 520 days (240 days - flight to Mars, 240 day - flight back, 30 day - work on Mars) in absolute isolation playing the role of a crew flying to Mars. The experiment is a part of a major research venture to simulate a manned flight to Mars. EPA/-