Rob Porcaro, a marketing executive from South Australia, plans to hike 520 kilometers (310 miles) in 16 days across claypans, salt lakes and more than 700 sand dunes in remote central Australia.

He will be monitored by scientists who will conduct psychological tests to measure the impact of isolation and fatigue on Porcaro's decision-making and thought processes.

The researchers from Mars Society Australia, the Australian National University and a Melbourne company, CogState, believe data collected from Porcaro's journey will help them assess how people would cope on the red planet.

"Many people draw similarities between the appearance of Mars and the Simpson Desert and it is this extreme environment that Rob will face during his solo expedition," Steve Dawson of the Mars Society said earlier this month.

"It creates an ideal simulation of the pressures people may incur living on a lunar land base and a rare opportunity for research," he said.

"Particularly unique is the opportunity to simulate a situation in which an explorer on the moon or Mars becomes separated from others and has to trek a long distance on foot to find help, a situation which could well develop during future interplanetary missions," he said.

"The results from this research will help us develop more effective training for people to cope with isolation and will also assist in refining criteria for the first people who may be selected to embark on a Mars mission."

Porcaro initially planned to begin the desert crossing on Tuesday but was prevented by recent rain.

SPACE.WIRE