After enduring a quarter of a
century together, a wedded couple could achieve stardom and be read about in
history books for generations to come.
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| designbuilt-network.com |
The Inspiration Mars Foundation
plans to send a middle-aged married couple into space—this one a round trip to
Mars and back. Fifty years ago on Christmas Eve 1968, during the Opollo 8's
first circumnavigation of the moon, the whole world listened to astronauts'
reflections while looking down at the Earth from space. The foundation intends
to start its one-and-a-half-year mission in January 2018 if it can raise enough
funds. Read the article here.
They plan to choose an older
couple whose relationship would be able to withstand the stress of living in a
confined environment for two years. During the selection process, they will
look for a resilient couple that would be able to maintain a happy upbeat
attitude in the face of adversity. Even carefully screened individuals are
likely to suffer from psychological problems from a prolonged space mission. People
find long periods of isolation very challenging. In theory, living close to
someone you truly cared for would help.
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| mars.jpl.nasa.gov |
Even though the couple would
receive extensive training and would be able to draw on psychological support
from mission control throughout the mission, there would be no getting off the
spacecraft—they must stay for the duration of the trip.
I don't know about you, but
wouldn't look forward to being cramped up with my loved-one for two years
without enough room to even wear a space-suit, recycling pee and eating dried
food. No matter how close, any married couple has their disagreements. My
husband and I are generally harmonious, but a small thing can set off a bomb
which will drive us apart until we work through the problem. All pleasure would
be gone from life—eating, entertainment and a stroll in the park to contact nature.
Anyone for a cramped trip into
space for two years?
