Deventer, 3 June 2010 - The astronauts of the Mars500 space project have chosen in favour of Auping. The Dutch bed manufacturer will supply the beds for this prestigious project which should eventually facilitate the first manned space mission to Mars. The astronauts will use the beds for well over 500 days.

The project is part of the Russian aerospace programme and is being supported by the European Space agency (ESA). Starting June 2010, six astronauts will spend 18 months in a simulator that replicates the planned expedition to the Red Planet. During this period, research will be carried out into how the voyage will affect their physical and mental health.

Extreme conditions call for excellent ventilation

Auping developed a mattress, duvet, pillows and bedding specifically for this project. "Because the capsule's sleeping compartments are so small, Auping decided to develop products that maintain their ventilating qualities despite the restricted dimensions," explains Auping Communication Manager Marjan Reitsma. "During a space flight, the materials are exposed to extreme conditions. The shuttle has limited air circulation and temperatures can rise to 25 degrees. That is why it is of the utmost importance that the materials are able to breathe. An added advantage for the astronauts is that the comfort level of the Auping beds is out of this world."

The Auping beds will also be subjected to various experiments during the simulation. French astronaut Romain Charles will be in charge of this study, and Auping will use his research results for the development of new products.

Mars500

Mars500 is a simulation of a 520-day mission to Mars. During this time, six astronauts will simulate a journey to the planet, a landing on the Martian landscape and the flight back home again. For this purpose, the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) and the ESA have constructed a replica of the space shuttle, a landing craft and the Martian landscape. Six astronauts, among them two Europeans, will remain inside the simulator for 520 days. This will mimic the timescale of the actual journey. During the period of isolation, research will be conducted into the effects of such a long journey on the astronauts' physical and mental wellbeing. The results of the experiment will be used to facilitate the first manned space mission to Mars and a landing on the planet.