Will Mars 500 Crew Be Able To Psychology Survive

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Will the Mars 500 crew be able to psychologically survive on mock-up spacecraft for 520 days? In order to psychologically survive a 520 day mock-up flight the crew need several things to take with them. This includes basic necessities such as a variety of different meals, water and a way of cleaning themselves. Furthermore, they need a way to contact their families, prevent boredom, as well as have a doctor whom they can speak with at any time. We need to look if the crew are equipped with these things, and to what extent, to therefore decide if they will be able to psychologically survive the mock flight. There are definitely a variety of meals and drinks that can be eaten in space, as shown on space-food.co.uk, where one can buy deserts, fruit and main courses which can be eaten in space. Some may argue that the crew will go insane eating the same food weekly. However, this might not be the case as shown in the news paper document, where the crew, “will also grow their own lettuces, radishes and cabbage in a mini-green-house attached to their pod”, which adds variety to their meals. Furthermore, according to the ESA each crew member will be given personal meals which have different nutrion values for each member. There is a water-recycling machine as well as limited amounts of clean water on board. The only viable way for the crew to clean their entire body on the spacecraft is in the shower. While just being able to use a shower may prevent some of them from going insane for lack of poor hygiene, they will have limited use of it as according to the news-article, “a shower they are permitted to use once every 10 days”. To follow this change for more that a year will be psychhologically hard on some individuals who have been used to bathing on an almost daily basis. Some may argue that the crew members will become homesick because of having no direct contact

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