Crew of simulated Mars flight exhausted after 15 months in isolation

The only way I'd volunteer for this experiment is if all the other participants are women.

Whoa...be careful what you wish for!

'The one male crew member suffered horrible medical complications eight days into the simulation. Reports say he died of natural causes, specifically a space wrench striking him in the head thirty-seven times.'

IMHO, long distance (and Mars is close by interstellar standards) space travel needs to wait 'til we get the next necessary paradigm shift in propulsion technology. The reaction engine (even the ion ones) is early 16th century science. The other issue is accommodation. I'll wager a lot of the fatigue and tension came from the stress of being "under a microscope" 24/7. Having lived on a 45' boat with my family for 11 years, there are certain specific elements needed for humans to survive both confinement and each other for long periods. And lots of stuff to keep them busy is not one of them.

I'd say ditch the complaining ones and replace them with some of the political prisoners who spent years in wretched conditions and isolation yet still come out stronger mentally than ever...

With the "reality show" mentality going into what was to be a dead serious endeavor, no wonder they are "mentally drained" and " can't wait to see the Sun and family".

IMHO, long distance (and Mars is close by interstellar standards) space travel needs to wait 'til we get the next necessary paradigm shift in propulsion technology. The reaction engine (even the ion ones) is early 16th century science. The other issue is accommodation. I'll wager a lot of the fatigue and tension came from the stress of being "under a microscope" 24/7. Having lived on a 45' boat with my family for 11 years, there are certain specific elements needed for humans to survive both confinement and each other for long periods. And lots of stuff to keep them busy is not one of them.

Good for you, although I beg to differ. Tibetan monks and ascetic hermits in Asia lived for years in isolated mountain caves and they didn't go stir crazy. It's all in the mind.

i wonder how much zero gravity would effect this experiment. i would think quite a bit. it could potentially help i think. to maintain their muscles/bodies they would need to exercise them which would likely help them with the boredom and thinking of home.
It sounds like these guys in the experiment gave it their best but 15 months isnt really all that long and i think their are probably people much more suited to it.

"Experts say they are doing what they can to keep moods up. They add that no actual trip to Mars is in the planning."

I bet they 'forgot' to tell the guys that little snippet of information before they locked them away. :)

three Russians, one Italian, a Chinese national and a Frenchman were in simulator ...

And the punchline?

IMHO, long distance (and Mars is close by interstellar standards) space travel needs to wait 'til we get the next necessary paradigm shift in propulsion technology. The reaction engine (even the ion ones) is early 16th century science. The other issue is accommodation. I'll wager a lot of the fatigue and tension came from the stress of being "under a microscope" 24/7. Having lived on a 45' boat with my family for 11 years, there are certain specific elements needed for humans to survive both confinement and each other for long periods. And lots of stuff to keep them busy is not one of them.

Good for you, although I beg to differ. Tibetan monks and ascetic hermits in Asia lived for years in isolated mountain caves and they didn't go stir crazy. It's all in the mind.

I'm not sure being isolated in mountains is the equivalent of living in a container.

i wonder how much zero gravity would effect this experiment. i would think quite a bit. it could potentially help i think. to maintain their muscles/bodies they would need to exercise them which would likely help them with the boredom and thinking of home.
It sounds like these guys in the experiment gave it their best but 15 months isnt really all that long and i think their are probably people much more suited to it.

I think actually being in space or on mars would have a more positive effect on them then them knowing they are on earth crammed in some container for an experiment.

Putting the Frenchman in there was unnecessarily harsh, and unrealistic. Seriously though, did they get the "team turd" phenomenon? - noted in all antarctic overwinter teams, where one person is universally hated and estranged?

Thanks for doing the experiment. Best wishes.

I recall a group in the 80/90's in AZ(?) that was hounded by the press. And when it came time to inject some fresh air into the experiment to keep the folks alive everybody complained! How can you complain about a test, though? Learning you need more oxygen is a successful experiment in my book! lol

Interesting that for this simulation an all-male crew was chosen. Space historian James Oberg has reported on a Russian long duration experiment called Sphinx-99, meant to simulate crew isolation aboard the ISS, that ended up being cut short in part by the occurrence of fights and allegations of a sexual assault perpetrated by a Russian commander on a female Canadian participant, among other incidents: http://www.jameso...rus.html

I wonder if they had to hide eating utensils from the crew members at some point in this simulation?

"I recall a group in the 80/90's in AZ(?) that was hounded by the press. And when it came time to inject some fresh air into the experiment to keep the folks alive everybody complained!"

Sounds like Biosphere 2: http://en.wikiped...sphere_2

People have spent long times aboard Skylab, Mir, and ISS. 437 days is the record, but several are either just over or under a year.

http://en.wikiped..._records

I agree with the posts above which suggest that the mental effects of being in an 'experiment' versus 'the real thing' are significant. It just wouldn't feel the same. Maybe it would help if there was some sort of 'destination' when they get done, such as a trip to a resort of some kind. It would help to give the feeling of achieving a goal. Also, I wonder if anyone has bothered to monitor the staff outside the 'ship' to see if they are growing fatigued as well.

I'm getting fatigued just reading this thread. I've got an audacious idea: how about we spend our energies actually going somewhere?
Can you imagine, before the discovery of America, that they put a bunch of hapless sailor-wanabees in a hole like this to see if transoceanic voyages were possible? What a ridiculous affair! Great laughs all around.
Now can we please get on with doing something that gets us off the planet?