Simulation shows Mars trip realistic

Six scientists have completed a year-long Mars simulation in Hawaii, where they lived in a dome in near isolation.

For the past year, the group in the dome on a Mauna Loa mountain could go outside only while wearing spacesuits.

Yesterday, the simulation ended, and the scientists emerged.

Cyprien Verseux, a crew member from France, said the simulation showed a mission to Mars could succeed.

‘‘A mission to Mars in the close future is realistic. I think the technological and psychological obstacles can be overcome,’’ Verseux said.

Christiane Heinicke, a crew member from Germany, said the scientists were able to find their own water in a dry climate.

‘‘You can actually get water from ground that is seemingly dry. It would work on Mars and the implication is you would be able to get water on Mars from this little greenhouse construct,’’ she said.

Tristan Bassingthwaighte, a doctor of architecture candidate at University of Hawaii, served as the crew’s architect.

‘‘The UH research going on up here is just super vital when it comes to picking crews, figuring out how people are going to actually work on different kinds of missions, and sort of the human factors element of space travel, whatever it is you are actually looking at.’’