In March of 2019 will begin the second part of a long insulating SIRIUS experiment to simulate sending people to the moon, which this time will be held for 4 months. It will be attended by Russian test pilots, and two members from the space Agency NASA that the last will be first. In the experiment it is planned to carry out a simulated flight to the moon, to choose the site for the future construction of settlements and bases, and then “return” back to Earth.
It is reported that up to half of the “crew” ground-based experiment can be women. Medical-expert Commission on January 9-10, will choose 10 people. From 14 January to begin training, the results of which will be selected 5 people. All the crew will be 6 people. Four of them – Russians: two women and two men. On the American side in the experiment will participate a couple of men and women. To date, we have approved the candidacy of one Russian participant. They will be a cosmonaut Evgeny Tarelkin, who worked on the ISS in 2012-2013, and as part of the experiment will be the captain of the crew. NASA also selected two people, but their names are not yet known.
The Russians fly to the moon
Before the actual start of the insulation experiment, scheduled for March 1, the crew will spend three days in the medical-technical ground experimental complex (NEK), which will perform the functions of the spacecraft. Thus, scientists want to make sure that all participants will be ready before long-term isolation.
In the experiment planned for flight simulation, landing and working on the moon and return to Earth. The plan will look like this: after a week since the beginning of the experiment, the crew will reach the orbit of the satellite and will spend docked to the lunar orbital station (will play the role of analogue for a future Lunar Orbital station Platform-Gateway). In the next two months will be carried out observing the lunar surface and to produce a decision on the landing point. In the same period will be conducted to simulate a series of connections with other transport spacecraft.
After the drop-off location will be finalized, four crew members will simulate landing on the descent module, followed by a series of group (of 2-3 people) outputs on the surface.
For more realism of what is happening, you will use the virtual reality system mounted in the helmets of the spacesuits of astronauts. The floor of the pavilion, which will be a simulation experiment, will be covered with sand, simulating the lunar regolith. In addition, during communication with the Ground for maximum realism will be a five minute delay, and other abnormal situations. It is noted that communication between the participants and the experiment and the Earth could “disappear” up to 5 days.
During the phase of simulation work on the surface of the moon (will last about 10 days), “remaining in orbit” colleagues will provide the “landing” astronauts of various technical assistance and consultation. During the final phase of the experiment, before the “return” back to Earth the crew will do a four-week flight around the moon, and will be engaged in imitation of remote control Rovers.
Throughout the experiment the subjects will follow the doctors of Institute mediko-biological problems (IMBP RAS), and their colleagues from NASA.
Recall that the SIRIUS project is a series of experiments on the simulation of long-term interplanetary flight mixed (both on the national and gender composition) of the crew in conditions of autonomy. In the first phase, conducted in November 2017, participants in the experiment were isolated from the outside world conditions for 17 days. In the second phase, which will begin in March next year, it is planned four-month experiment. In late 2019 – early 2020, scientists are going to spend the next stage, which will last for 8 months. In 2020-2021, is set to stage the annual experiment. Previously it was also noted that annual stages may be several. In addition, the possibility of the more lengthy stages of the experiment.
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