![Mars500](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48ZWXDNyz7Q2y0VgIjDfyRQvM6NBaQypSkru5pFyFkcjL3PVMQEYBOmKnwNTLfwv4l6ggJpPfThSga33wMFP6Ro77PXHndWl8dKHapGFpM_oNCN-1MR5qq16tFxNd7ybWdiERIl5h9LH-/s400/mars500d.jpg)
Today, they embark upon their 105-day isolation study, the first attempt at a comprehensive Mars Mission simulation. If all goes well, they will undergo a 520-day "trip" later this year.
The web site of the European Space Agency now has a special ESA Mars500 section, complete with crew biographies, more in-depth looks at the modules, photograph galleries, and descriptions of their scientific protocols -- from group social dynamics to "Neuro-Immuno-Endocrine and metabolic effects" and right on down to plain-old loneliness.
Mars500 on Euronews
Two of the participants will be keeping a daily diary... no blog feed as of yet, but perhaps they'll expand into that eventually if enough people are interested. I for one will be following along, in the hopes they have good results... and also hoping that someday we mirror this effort in the American space program as well --perhaps in cooperation with JAXA? Time will tell.