Test subjects get 120 Euros a day

Dewinne
Want to experience all the travails of being an astronaut with none of the glory? Now's your chance! The European Space Agency is seeking healthy, psychologically-stable test subjects to make a mock trip to Mars.

What does a simulated Martian voyage entail? Well, for starters, 500 days in a "hermetically sealed module." The crew of six (bound to become either your best friends or worst enemies) will live and work in a roughly 650 square foot area filled with everything a fake astronaut could ever desire: Sauna! Gym! Experimental greenhouse! Food will be rationed, smoking and alcohol is forbidden, and every seven days you get a two-day "weekend." (which begs the question: what does one do on days off?) Should you need to communicate with "earth," a 20-minute signal delay will replicate interplanetary conditions.

So, aside from faint praise what can a pretend astronaut hope for in terms of compensation? "I don't remember the exact amount, but it's comparable to what is used regularly in medical studies," says Marc Heppener, the scientist behind the program. "About 120 euros a day."

Get yer application form here. No shoving, folks.—Abby Seiff

Want to learn more about the environment, solar energy, sustainability, and more? Subscribe to Popular Science and enter to win $5,000!

1 Comment

Americans need not apply. To be eligible for Mars500, you must be a citizen of Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom or Canada.



Download Our iPhone App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed



Become a Fan On Facebook

Share links with friends, comment on stories and more


December 2009: Best of What's New

In our December issue, Popular Science names the 100 best innovations of the year: bombproof wallpaper, self-parking cars, the fastest helicopter, and 97 more. Plus inventor profiles and videos.

Check out the best of what's new here.

Popular Science Photo Pool


Share your photos in the Pop Sci pool at www.flickr.com!
tags_sprite.png
POP_embeddedForm_cover_May09.jpg