Mars all over the headlines...
While orbiters orbit , rovers rove and landers land it is now time for news not regarding robotic ways of acquiring knowledge...
The Mars500 study, a cooperative project between ESA and the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow, has selected, last week, 32 candidates (from a total of more than 5 600 applicants) from which two, along with four Russian volunteers, will be sealed in an isolation chamber for a total of 105 days starting in October. This is followed by the full isolation period with another two European candidates, which lasts for 520 days starting early in 2009.
While orbiters orbit , rovers rove and landers land it is now time for news not regarding robotic ways of acquiring knowledge...
The Mars500 study, a cooperative project between ESA and the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow, has selected, last week, 32 candidates (from a total of more than 5 600 applicants) from which two, along with four Russian volunteers, will be sealed in an isolation chamber for a total of 105 days starting in October. This is followed by the full isolation period with another two European candidates, which lasts for 520 days starting early in 2009.
Part of the referred chamber will simulate the spacecraft that would transport them on their journey to and from Mars and another part will simulate the landing module that would transfer them to and from the Martian surface.
So...what is the profile of this 32 special ones?
Between them, according to an ESA release, there are numerous degrees and PhDs covering the whole spectrum of science and engineering, as well as candidates who are qualified divers and pilots and/or have military experience and even candidates that previously worked on human spaceflight missions. These highly qualified individuals have come from all over Europe: Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, France, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland and...Portugal (well...must find out who he/she is...)
So...what is the profile of this 32 special ones?
Between them, according to an ESA release, there are numerous degrees and PhDs covering the whole spectrum of science and engineering, as well as candidates who are qualified divers and pilots and/or have military experience and even candidates that previously worked on human spaceflight missions. These highly qualified individuals have come from all over Europe: Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, France, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland and...Portugal (well...must find out who he/she is...)
The criteria under which these candidates were selected were, according to Henning Soll, a DLR psychologist and a member of the interview panel for the selection procedure, not only robustness, emotional stability, motivitation for team work, openeness to other cultures and the capabilty to deal with the "slightly Spartan lifestyle" associated with an actual space mission.
A crucial requirement will deal with the combination of different personalities and talents together in order to create the optimal group for such an extensive exercise.
A medical examination, which included an ultrasound investigation of inner organs, was performed in order to determine the health status of the candidates; a psychological test, also used in the pilot selection process by DLR; and a personal interview with an expert panel to determine areas such as the motivation and suitability of each candidate in question, these were the three aspects to the selection process at the European Astronaut Centre.
More information on ESA.int and, soon, on this blog of yours...
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