From Earth’s Orbit to the Outer Planets and Beyond: Psychological Issues in Space

Current planning for the first interplanetary expedition to Mars envisions a crew of six or seven people and mission duration of around 2.5 years. However, this time frame is much less than that expected on expeditions to the outer solar system, where total mission durations of 10 years or more are likely. Although future technological breakthroughs in propulsion systems and space vehicle construction may speed up transit times, for now we must realistically consider the psychological impact of missions lasting for one or more decades.

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