Russian scientists from the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems (Russian Academy of Sciences) announce that the call for European volunteers for the 105-day-long experiment within the project “Mars 500” is closed.
      
      This November eight successful candidates from European Space Agency passed thorough medical examination, which included electrocardiogram (stress and rest tests), chest and back X-ray, ultrasound studies of internal organs and various blood tests.
      
      All ESA candidates are men, aged between 28 and 9 years, who come from Denmark, Sweden, Germany, France and Belgium. Only two of them will join four Russian volunteers and form the crew of 105-day-long experiment, due to commence next March. The candidates were selected from 5600 volunteers.
      
      105-day-long experiment is the part of the Russian project “Mars 500”, and during this study six healthy volunteers will spend almost four months in special unit, where flight to Mars is simulated. Said experiment precedes 520-day-long experiment, scheduled for 2009, which will simulate the whole flight to Mars.
      
      Source: CNews.ru