Roscosmos last June began a Mars flight simulation program, locking three Russians, two Europeans and a Chinese astronaut in an 18, 800-square-foot, five-module complex to live there in isolation for 17 months, Bloomberg reported on April 5.

FORBES: Will Russia Win the Next Space Race?

The Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, an aluminium canister loaded with almost five tonnes of equipment, systems and science racks for transfer to Destiny, will be attached to the ISS early next week.

BBC: Discovery docks with space station