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It will be months before those 33 trapped miners in Chile see the light of day. NASA is advising the rescuers now and the European Space Agency can help, too. They’ve had six volunteers living in a small capsule in Moscow since the beginning of June. They’re simulating an 18-month mission to Mars. Much like the miners in Chile, the volunteers are being monitored to see how they handle the isolation in cramped conditions. Jennifer Ngo Ahn, is project manager of Mars 500 at the European Space Agency. Download MP3
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MARCO WERMAN: I’m Marco Werman. This is the World. It will be months before those 33 trapped miners in Chile see the light of day. Preparations to start drilling a rescue tunnel have taken time. But the actual drilling should start tomorrow. Meanwhile, officials are focusing on keeping the men physically and mentally healthy during the long wait. Chile’s government has sought help from NASA, whose astronauts often work in cramped conditions for long periods of time. Chile could also ask the European Space Agency for some advice. It’s had six volunteers living in a small capsule in Moscow since the beginning of June. They’re simulating an 18-month mission to Mars. Jennifer Ngo Ahn, is project manager of Mars 500 at the European Space Agency, and joins us now from Leiderdorp in the Netherlands. Jennifer, what are the main parallels between your volunteers and the miners in Chile?
JENNIFER NGO AHN: The main thing is that both groups are isolated. They are separated from their friends and family, from their usual work environment, et cetera, so that’s the main challenge.
WERMAN: What do you think your psychologists at the European Space Agency, who are monitoring the people in this isolation chamber in Moscow, what would they advise the miners in Chile and the team at the entrance to the mine coaching them while they’re done there?
AHN: The main thing will be to relay a positive attitude towards the miners. Emphasize the fact that they have been found and everything is underway to rescue them as soon as possible and that will become reality in the very near future.
WERMAN: Ms. Ahn, you’ve been talking about the psychological survival skill that humans may have simply forgotten about. Looking back to the sailing age people would spend months out at sea completing their journey. Do the records from those times give you some clues to potential psychological hazards both in space and in the situation in Chile in the mine?
AHN: We know from previous missions and other studies and reports that it’s very important that they accept the differences that are between the different people, but it’s also in case they don’t talk to each other for a certain amount of time.
WERMAN: I guess that’s a good lesson for being in isolation for a long time. Don’t mind the awkward silences.
AHN: Correct.
WERMAN: Jennifer Ngo Ahn is project manager of the Mars 500 mission at the European Space Agency. Thanks very much for your time.
AHN: You’re very welcome.
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