Moscow: The European Space Agency (ESA) will soon begin selecting candidates for an imitation of the manned flight to Mars called Mars-500 Experiment, scheduled for late 2007 - early 2008. The selection of the candidates will take place at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems at Russian Academy of Science.

"ESA will soon make an official announcement on the beginning of the selection of candidates for the Mars-500 Experiment," a source in the Institute told Interfax news agency today. In accordance with the contract signed last April, between the ESA and the Institute, two out of six participants in the experiment would be the citizens of European states, he said, adding the ESA experts would select candidates at the first stage and then a joint Russian-EU Commission would choose the most appropriate ones.

The Institute continues to receive applications from volunteers of Russia and other countries. "As of today, we have received more than 150 applications," source said. A pilot experiment involving staff of the Institute will take place this fall. They will live in a special airproof space station module for several days in order to check the accuracy of the technical equipment.

"Should any equipment break down after the launch of the experiment, participants will have to repair it themselves. That is why equipment will be checked several times before the Mars-500 experiment is launched," source added.

Six volunteers will have to stay within a space station module for over 520 days, time required to fly to and from Mars, in the experiment.