re: I can't imagine how a capsule design can even begin to live up to those words.
The Mars direct sort of vehicle design has a lot of internal space - I'd say about as much as Mir after Spektr was taken off line. Year long stays were not unusual.
If someone said "Right - trip to mars, but you've got to live inside something the size of a Caravan for 12 months"...I'd say yes.
Doug
