Russia wants volunteers for mock Mars mission

I hope the Russians get to Mars before the US and stick a flag on there..
And everyone laughs at the stupid americans....
I'm sure the Russians could of made it to the moon...well they did in 1969...just they crashed landed on there...
Russia's economy is becoming ok....im sure though Russia would still continue with the mission to mars even if the country suffers economically.

I would tend to go with Flux Wilde on this one. I would tend to doubt they really have the finances to actually complete a mission of such vast expense, but the research would be invaluable to anyone who could afford it.

And as a side note, someone mentioned the Russians didn't mind taking risks with the lives of their astronauts (cosmonauts). I have a strong recollection from a documentary I saw that one of the main reasons they lost the race to put a man on the moon, was down to them not willing to risk lives. I hope people aren't still harbouring cold war propaganda ideals and trying to resell them in this thread.

Just another thought do you think the Russian will put in TV cameras and a diary room. It's big brother communist style