The experiment – the first of its kind involving an all-female crew — is slated to kick off on October 28 in Russia, Oleg Orlov, first deputy director of the Institute of Medical and Biological Studies (IMBS) in Moscow, told the news agency RIA Novosti.
“The participants will spend eight days in total isolation inside a module earlier used in the Mars-500 experiment,” Orlov said.
The six volunteers are IMBS employees between 23 and 34 years of age. They will take part in the single circle, non-landing experiment, dubbed as Luna-2015 (Moon-2015).
“Just like in the Mars-500 experiment, any participant is free to pull out at any time with no questions asked. One difference between the two is that those taking part in the Luna-2015 experiment won’t be paid anything. However, if everything is done well, they may get a bonus,” Oleg Orlov added.
