Experiment simulating yearlong space flight begins in Russia

MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax) - A 365-day international experiment simulating an interplanetary flight, SIRIUS 23, began at the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) Institute of Medical-Biological Problems on Tuesday, an Interfax correspondent reported.

The experiment's organizers sent greetings to the crew and wished them success with the mission.

The participants entered the experiment venue, and the door was sealed off behind them.

SIRIUS is an isolation experiment simulating the main features of a future interplanetary expedition. Its main goal is to study the mechanisms of the human body's adaptation to yearlong isolation.

The main crew consists of commander Yury Chebotaryov (Russia), doctor Ksenia Orlova (Russia), engineer Anzhelika Parfyonova (Russia), and researchers Rustam Zaripov (Russia), Ksenia Shishenina (Russia) and Olga Mastitskaya (Belarus).

On November 7, Institute of Medical-Biological Problems Director Oleg Orlov said the experiment would comprise around 70 research programs.

The Belarusian National Academy of Sciences is the key partner of the experiment, which also involves international organizations and scientists from India, the United States, Turkey, Canada and some other countries, he said.

The SIRIUS (Scientific International Research in Unique Terrestrial Station) experiment, hosted by the Ground Experimental Center of the Institute of Medical-Biological Problems, simulates space flights.

The project seeks to facilitate space exploration beyond near-Earth orbit by assessing the risks to human health and working capacity through a program of fundamental, applied and operational research.

The project's first experiment lasted for 17 days in November 2017, and a four-month experiment followed in March-July 2019.

An eight-month experiment simulating a flight to the Moon, SIRIUS 21, ended in July 2022. It involved researchers from Russia, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.