I've been quietly advocating a one-way mission to Mars for several years now. It seems quite sensible, really, and there would be no shortage of volunteers from the scientific and astronaut community.

I agree with you about the 1/3 gee issue - currently untested but going to be soon with mice, anyway. It shows the basic flaw of the ISS - designed to research long-term stays in zero-g, which we already know about from decades of Russian experience, and even some US Skylab work.

What should have been built, IMHO, was a rotating station with 1/3 g in the main levels, and a zero-g centre, simulating a mission to Mars. By now, we would have several year's experience in 1/3 g and have a good answer to the question, as well as being able to keep astronauts up there longer (probably) during glitches in missions.

As for radiation risks. yes it is an official problem, but, providing you avoid any major solar flares, the risk per year due to the radiation dose represents a mere additional 1% chance of cancer. So in 10 years on the surface, 1 in 10 of the explorers would acquire a potentially fatal cancer. So what, there are plenty other risks of dying on a strange and inhospitable planet.

The LD50 is 50 years. I'm 45. My LD50 of breathing air is less!

Send people past child-rearing age, or who have been sterilised anyway. No medical or moral complications there.

Form a queue behind me...