The European Space Agency is seeking six men and six women to embark on the 17-month virtual journey, for a 520-day simulated mission to Mars.

The crew's only contact with the outside world will be a radio link to 'Earth' with a realistic 40 minute delay.

The volunteers will even eat the same food that astronauts get aboard the International Space Station.

The aim of the experiment is to gain an insight into how humans behave in conditions similar to those on a journey to Mars.