Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to A One-Way, One-Person Mission to Mars

re: A One-Way, One-Person Mission to Mars
ER — (archived)

You might have little problems getting quantities of volunteers for such a mission, but their quality would probably be problematical. The kind of people who are successful at astronaut training are highly motivated and extremely competent and capable individuals (yes, I know there are exceptions!). They may be risk takers, with backgrounds as fighter pilots and test pilots, but they are not suicidal, and they are single-minded and dedicated. In short, they're about as sane as humans get.

This just doesn't fit the profile for this mission. People willing to spend a lifetime preparing for this dangerous career, without even a guarantee they'll eventually get to go, are not likely to be the type to settle for a one-way ticket to oblivion. Anyone who does is not going to endure the rigors of a long solo mission anyway. They've already shown the inclination to checkout early when things don't work out.

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