Hello,
Reading Zimmerman's "Leaving Earth", we learn more things!

Krikalev had been twice aboard Mir, before joining the US and flying with the Shuttle and being part of the first expedition crews.
He says Mir was the space station with the best closed loop technology, recycling water for instance.
Mir also allowed for more tranquility : only 15 minutes of communication per orbit (while above Russia).
And the Russian manned space program allowed for more autonomy and initiatives from the crew.

But the US space station is not designed for recycling water or other consummables (a step backwards), the astronauts are in constant touch with the ground and all decisions are made on the ground, leaving little initiative to the astronauts.

Meaning, MIR was much better suited for preparing a crew to go to Mars!
Of course, astronauts will have to be able to control their spaceship, will be more isolated and will need recycling!

The ISS is not the way to Mars. Too many decisions from outside the station, no autonomy...

If Bush wants to go to Mars, radical changes are needed to the equipment and the philosophy behind ISS.

To start with: astronauts should spend a whole year aboard it!

Raoul