The Russian Institute of Medical and Biological Problems (IMBP), in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA), have selected six individuals to simulate space flight to the planet Mars. Scientists arranged to copy all conditions that can be imitated on Earth, such as finite food and water resources, an artificial atmosphere, and even time delays in communications to mimic the radio lag between Mars and Earth.

The capsule returning from the space carrying International Space Station crew landed 420 km (260 miles) away from the target site in northern Kazakhstan, but the crew are safe, Russian Mission Control said Saturday.

Russia to send manned mission to the Moon by 2025 and to establish a permanent manned base on the moon's surface - space agency.

Russia will not participate in joint lunar exploration with NASA, but will assist the U.S. with its shuttle program until 2015, a spokesman for the Russian space agency said.