Mars mission ‘returning’ to Earth today.

The European Space Agency has been running a mock mission to Mars for the last year and a half, using a crew of six male volunteers. Now, the crew is set to 'return’ to Earth.

The fake space craft has housed the crew for 520 days, while they simulated tasks and living conditions that would be expected on an actual Mars mission. In reality the craft was parked in a Moscow car park.

The all-male crew could only shower once a week, ate canned food and received emails on a delay, depending on how “far away” they are from Earth. Their living quarters are the size of a bus and, outside of a quick stint on mock Mars, they’ve spent two eight-month periods in total confinement.

But Patrik Sundblad, the human life sciences specialist at the ESA, says the simulation has proved a complete success. “Yes, the crew can survive the inevitable isolation that is for a mission to Mars and back,” Sundblad stated. “Psychologically, we can do it.”

The capsule door will finally open on 4 November at 10am UTC.