Participants of the simulated Mars expedition give thumbs up during a press conference in Moscow, capital of Russia, June 3, 2010. Participants of a simulated Mars expedition "took off" on Thursday for a 520-day "space trip." Six people are sealed in the Mars-500 module, which will simulate all aspects of a journey to the Red Planet, with a 250-day trip onward, 30-day stay on "Mars surface" and a 240-day return flight. [Xinhua] |