A 378-day Mars simulation changed this Canadian scientist's outlook on life | Hacker News Reader

A 378-day Mars simulation changed this Canadian scientist's outlook on life

cbc.ca

23 pointsbookofjoe11 comments

> "It would still cause me a great deal of thought, but I think my answer now is it would be very difficult to leave my partner, to leave my people, for that amount of time, because it would be far more than a year," she said.

If we do long distance human space exploration, it will likely have to be as a community, where people can have long term relationships with pair bonding and sexual relations.

And children.

I wonder if I could talk my family into this. (Edit, going on a space travel simulation as a family.)

I might have put my brother out of the airlock at some point in childhood.

"Why go to Mars? Because it's possible,"

I understand this sentiment applies to running marathon or climbing a mountain because you don't really have to sacrifice anything besides time and money, but saying you'd go on a hugely dangerous, probably one way trip, to Mars 'because it's there' is entirely different to me. If you do something adventurous on Earth your friends, family, etc don't really lose anything. If you go to Mars you're literally saying goodbye to them. The fact it's possible probably shouldn't be enough of a reason.

I feel you are doing the original phrase a disservice.

"Why did you want to climb Mount Everest? Because it's there" is the famous quote from George Mallory before his third and final attempt to reach the summit - he had lost men in both previous occasions, and he famously died during the third. And as his friend reported, "He said to me that what he would have to face would be more like war than adventure, and that he did not believe he would return alive"[1]. Mallory knew full well that the chances of coming back were low, and not returning from Mount Everest and not returning from Mars are not that different for those who stay behind.

It also occurs to me that someone alive in Mars would be better connected to their family than literally anyone who settled in America in the 1800s. I wouldn't do it, but it's not that impossible to imagine.

[1] https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/george-mallory-mount-evere...

> "You are rolling out of your room and you are at work," she said.

I know that feeling.

Simply select participants who are singles.

> to leave my people

Being single does not equip one to leave behind their friends and family.

Or people who wish they were.

You don't just put out a call for singles, trap em in a cave, and expect the same number of singles to emerge a year later

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