NASA starts year-long isolation to prepare astronauts for Mars

Misleading headline. It's an isolation experiment, and the six person team are not astronauts. Only in the loosest sense is it preparing anyone to go to Mars, or simulating life on Mars. It's also not even the longest to date.[1]

[1] "Other simulation experiments have taken place under the ocean off the Florida coast, in Antarctica and in Russia, where a 520-day Mars experiment was carried out in 2011."

Just watched a Twighlight Zone episode about this subject. It was actually the first of the series.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_Is_Everybody%3F

You better just read the "The Martian" Andy Weir's book than sitting in a dome for a 6 month. And for what reason, Russians have already completed such kind of experiment in 2010-2011 and the length of experiment was more then 500 days https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARS-500

This reminded me of the Biosphere 2 experiment, which I saw a fascinating talk on. I think it was basically the same as this TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_poynter_life_in_biosphere_2

Eight scientists lived in a closed biosphere to simulate what a potential colonization scenario might be like (among other things). The first experiment lasted 2 years, and encountered environmental issues, but also some psychological upsets - the crew split into two factions who became bitter enemies, among other things.

More at the web site for "Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation":

http://hi-seas.org/

Brings to mind: https://youtu.be/u80ZMJSyEzo?t=14s

NASA, if you need a volunteer, I'm your guy! Please?