Psychological Challenges of a Manned Mission to Mars

Feelings of isolation and boredom are only some of the factors crew members will have to deal with, researchers say.

Now imagine being stuck with such a person in a room the size of an RV for 17 months. If the Inspiration Mars Foundation is successful in its bid to launch a woman and a man to fly by the red planet in 2018, privacy is one of many psychological issues crew members will have to deal with.

The foundation, led by space tourist Dennis Tito, formally announced its plan on Wednesday at a Washington, D.C., press conference. (Related: "Manned Mars Mission Announced by Dennis Tito Group.")

The all-American crew would consist of two people past childbearing age due to the radiation doses they would be exposed to by using current equipment. Technological constraints also dictate the number of people

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