They won’t come out until they travel to Mars and back. The men are kind of human guinea pigs. They won’t leave earth, but they are going to see if humans can withstand the long isolation required to go to the Red Planet and back without breaking down mentally. One thing they cannot experience is weightlessness. That could be a major reason for mental breakdown. And the exact impact of such long term weightlessness on their bodies cannot be simulated either. So, can they withstand the simulated isolation in a crowded spacecraft for the 520-days scientists predict it will take to travel to the Red Planet and back.
The crew will encounter 20-minute communication delays, realistic scenarios, and will perform over 90 experiments. The mock spacecraft consists of scientific and medical modules, living areas, a greenhouse, exercise area and a kitchen. The six-man team will be closely monitored for performance, sleep and activity cycles as well as psychological responses connected to stress, mood changes and conflicts. The isolation experience is the last phase of the Russian Mars 500 Program, supported by the U.S., the Russian Space Agency and European space agency.
Why are space experts eyeing Mars as a place to go? They think they will find water there? They also think they will find the remains of ancient microorganisms? They probably will find those things there. But instead of proving life existed on Mars, they will find the remains of earthly organisms flung into space during comet or asteroid collisions with the earth. Why such a risky trip, when we could find the same thing in greater quantity on the moon. It would be a cheaper, safer trip too. So, is going to Mars wise or just an ego trip so we can say we went to another planet?
This is Carl Ramsey and that’s Another View of the News.
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