Preparation for Mars missions: Six people in isolation for 100 days - study completed

After 100 days in isolation, six participants in the SOLIS100 research project have left the simulation facility of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne. The European crew of three men and three women aged 26 to 32 returned to their daily lives on Friday after a final recovery phase. The goal of the study commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA) was to investigate the effects of long-term missions, such as to the Moon or Mars, on health and performance under extreme conditions.

The subjects from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal spent more than three months isolated from the outside world in a cramped environment without sunlight. During the 14 weeks, they had to make do with limited resources such as non-perishable food and without personal contact with family and friends. Daily life was shaped by scientific work, medical data collection, a strict sports program, and the maintenance of the station.

Contact with the control center was mainly via intercom. Preparation for Mars and Moon missions According to DLR department head Anke Pagels-Kerp, such investigations are essential to prepare astronauts for the mental and physical strain of future missions to the Moon or Mars. The SOLIS100 study serves to standardize data in order to make future support measures for crews comparable, according to project leader Amelie Therre.

The isolation took place in a research facility that enables global studies on extreme environmental conditions. In total, the project including preparation and follow-up investigation lasted 126 days. During the one-week follow-up phase after leaving the facility on August 1, further data on the physical and cognitive state of the crew were collected.

The study team can now begin to evaluate the information collected over the entire period - before, during, and after the isolation - in order to determine the effects during that time.