Unfortunately the Mars-500 has been delayed for 6 months. From Novosti Kosmonavtiki news №213:
1/7/2008/16:50 – Mars-500 experiment postponed for at least six months
The beginning of a major scientific experiment in which scientists intended to simulate the conditions of a manned flight to Mars, has been delayed more than six months. This was announced by Moscow’s Institute for Space Research (IMBP), which will host the experiment named “Mars-500”.
According to new data, a preliminary 105-day study is rescheduled for the first quarter of 2009. Accordingly the start date of the implementation of the 520-day experiment is also moved back. Maybe it will begin in late 2009, the Institute says.
IMBP notified all partners involved in the project of the postponement of the experiment, said a representative of the institution. He also said that at the moment, the institute had selected 10 Russians, who may take part in the ground “flight” to Mars. Six of them are participating in the ongoing two-week research study in the IMBP on the development of methods of non-surgical treatment of disorders that may arise during the flight to Mars.
The source also added that the institute completed the pilot complex ground volume 550 cubic meters, consisting of five airtight linked modules. The only module remaining unfinished is the one which simulates the Martian surface.
Cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov had some complications after surgery on 16 June for lower stomach pain (he was treated by the urology department) and was put in intensive care, but was released from hospital on 23 June. He is 74 years old. (Relevant NASASpaceflight.com and CollectSpace threads)
