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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Crew of Mars-flight simulation play chess with ex-world champion Anatoly Karpov

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2011


Hi everyone,

More on space and chess: An international team of researchers launched a grueling simulation of a flight to Mars that will keep them locked in a cascade of windowless modules for 520 days - the amount of time required for a return trip to the Red Planet. As part of efforts to keep the crew in good spirits, they played a match with former world chess champion Anatoly Karpov!
  


The Mars-500 experiment is conducted by the Moscow-based Institute for Medical and Biological Problems in cooperation with the European Space Agency and China's space training centre. Psychologists said long confinement would put the team under stress as they grow tired of each other. Psychological conditions can be even more challenging that a real flight because the crew won't experience any of the euphoria or dangers of actual space travel. You can read the complete article at this link

Here is a great RIA Novosti video. Find list of updates on the mission at RIA Novosti news headlines. Enjoy. 





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19 comments:

  1. Alexis Cochran, New ZealandOctober 19, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    Martians here we come with chess. Get set.

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  2. They better improve their chess if they want to take on the Martians. Karpov should go with them. Wink.

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  3. Brenda Kroll, BerlinOctober 19, 2011 at 11:58 AM

    Chess is a great tool to keep your wits about you. A good psychiatric technique if you're going to be in isolation for so long. Great. I always like all the chess and space stories.

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  4. Really can chess help you keep your mental balance? Then Fischer?

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  5. Alexis Cochran, New ZealandOctober 19, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Idiotic anonymous comment. Whatever happened to Fischer happened cause he gave up chess.

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  6. Amrit Puri, Knights Chess Club, New DelhiOctober 19, 2011 at 12:03 PM

    I think it's better to play bad chess for the mars mission crew. I mean what if they land on Mars and the aliens invite for a chess match and we beat them then won't the aliens get angry and invade Earth? Better to play bad chess.

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  7. I agree with Amrit. Cool, no GM gets to go on the Mars trip but bad players like me. We will make the aliens feel good.

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  8. If the mission is by Russia then there has to be chess, if it were America they would play Baseball. So it's ok. Chess is safe in space. The Crew can decide for themselves during the match with aliens if they are reacting bad to a minus position our crew can lose otherwise we can win.

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  9. Mental strength of facing confinement is sure a challenge. Chess is a great tool that ways. You're really never so alone when your opponent is bashing you up. I love chess.

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  10. Timothy Rodricks, ManchesterOctober 19, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    All male crew? For goodness sake they think they can impress the aliens? At least if the aliens lose to our women GMs they won't attack us.

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  11. Excuse me folks we cannot send our GMs on a trip to Mars. We prefer them here.

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  12. Let's hold the world championship in space

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  13. Larry, The Razor's EdgeOctober 19, 2011 at 12:40 PM

    Aliens don't play chess.

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  14. They do. Gods shall walk the earth.

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  15. Sanjay Gupta, New DelhiOctober 19, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    Why are we having a discussion on aliens and chess?

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  16. Sanjay Gupta, New DelhiOctober 19, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    Is it a contest with prizes?

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  17. Haroun Abdul Qadir, Cairo, EgyptOctober 19, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    That's a problem here. Someone starts a demented discussion and everyone wants to pitch in. Why don't we stick to chess. (Thank you Mr Chess Blog Admin. My earlier complaint has been rectified and now my comments are appearing on your website. I read your answer and get the understanding.)

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  18. Why didn't Karpov finish the game?

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  19. Three Musketeers, Land of HopeOctober 19, 2011 at 2:30 PM

    What exactly is the topic of discussion here?

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