The tragic accident, which could range from a broken leg to serious brain trauma, will test the volunteers of the Mars-500 project when they emerge onto a surface of Mars prepared in a Moscow laboratory.
The diagnosis and treatment will be coordinated between a surgeon on the landing team, another on the mother ship, and a medical team on “Earth” – who will only be able to receive and send information with a significant time delay.
After eight months of “space flight” – incarceration in a 1,000 square ft capsule – three of the volunteer crew of three Russians, a Chinese man, an Italian and a Frenchman will climb into a separate “landing capsule” on Saturday.