Experimental flight to the Moon starts in Russia

SIRIUS-17 experiment imitating flight to the Moon has started, RIA Novosti informs. It will last fo seventeen days. The experiment is conducted by Institute of Medical and Biological Problems. Three men and three women mured themselves inside the surface space ship. Five of them are Russians, and the sixth participant is from Germany. The crew will spend seventeen days in complete isolation. The cosmonauts will reach the Moon, turn around it and come back to Earth.

According to scientists, the experiment will model failure of connection with the Earth. At this, the crew has to develop an action plan and adjust it to the changing environment. Experts will evaluate the efficiency of crew members to use existing possibilities of the ship and available equipment. Besides, distribution of roles, interaction between men and women, personal space, biochemical indicators and immunity of crew members will be investigated.

Scientists are going to use renovated systems of sociological support and prepare new principles of territory distribution inside space ships to secure greater comfort of the crew members.

This would enable a better preparation for the flight to Mars. Besides, these data will be used for construction of near-lunar space station.

Russkiy Mir