NASA experts head to Chile mine

Experts from the US space agency NASA are travelling to a copper mine in Chile where 33 miners have been trapped underground for almost a month.



The specialists will advise the Chilean government on how to keep the miners in good spirits under extreme conditions.



NASA's deputy chief medical officer Michael Duncan has already told Chilean officials to be frank with the miners about how long their rescue will take.



Drilling work to rescue the miners could take three to four months.



The miners have been told it could take a long time to get them out of the San Jose mine, in Copiapo, but have not been given dates.



The NASA team, made up of a doctor, a nutritionist, an engineer and a psychologist, has considerable experience of space missions and is used to helping astronauts cope with extreme conditions and months of solitude.



On Tuesday, the company that owns the mine asked for forgiveness from the miners' relatives, many of whom have accused it of ignoring safety guidelines.