Mars Cycler System

By Terry A Maiers

A Master's Degree thesis on the feasibility of developing a phased, rotational mission to reduce the effects of boredom, isolation and loneliness on the members of the crews of the spacecraft.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781312824492

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Mars Cycler System

Mars Cycler System

A Phased / Rotational System for Missions to Mars

Copyright 2014 by Terry A. Maiers

All Rights Reserved

ISBN: 978-1-312-82449-2

AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

Charles Town, West Virginia

Is a phased development and rotational mission assignments the answer to boredom, monotony, loneliness and isolation for long-duration manned missions in space?

The effects of boredom, monotony, loneliness and isolation have led to episodes of conflict between members of previous crews on long-duration space missions. These effects will be exacerbated by the physical distance, time distance and communication distance from Earth. These effects cannot be adequately trained or tested for with Earth surface methods due to the inability of replicating adverse environment and distance conditions. These effects can be reduced or eliminated by a phased development and implementation of the manned presence in space including a lunar training facility, rotational mission assignments and the development of a Mars Cycler type system.

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the

Requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE

in

SPACE STUDIES

By

Terry A. Maiers

Departmental Approval Date: January 18, 2012

The author hereby grants the American Public University System the right to display these contents for educational purposes.

The author assumes total responsibility for meeting the requirements set by United States Copyright Law for the inclusion of any materials that are not the author’s creation or in the public domain.

1)     Problem

There are many issues related to the dangers of long duration missions in space. These range from the hazards of lethal radiation, impacts with space debris to the lack of a breathable atmosphere. In addition to these physical dangers there are the dangers from the crew members themselves. These dangers are directly related to physical dangers from psychological conditions and events inherent in the