For years, many scientists have considered Mars to be the next great frontier for human exploration. Following the successes of unmanned Mars rover missions, human travel to Mars is closer and closer to becoming a reality. These rapid advancements create a wide variety of new challenges for astronauts to overcome. When planning a manned mission to Mars, it is necessary to consider the social impacts of this situation on the astronauts’ interactions with each other while on the mission as well as the changes to the international community as a whole.
Mars travel puts astronauts through extreme conditions, including isolation, confinement, and limited resources (Dunn). The demands of this situation can lead to social problems that could ultimately inhibit the mission’s success. Studies such as NASA’s Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HISEAS) experiment have been implemented to discover potential problems before astronauts leave Earth. During the HI-SEAS program, six scientists lived in a closed dome in Hawaii for one year.
They experienced similar limitations to space travel, such as delayed communications and access to only freeze-dried food. The previous mission was the longest HI-SEAS mission so far, which is promising for the accuracy of future data. According to professor and HI-SEAS investigator Kim Binsted, “The longer each mission becomes, the better we can understand the risks of space travel” (“Six Scientists to Spend 365 days in isolation”). Scientists hope to quantify these risks during the simulation by closely studying the relationships and interactions of the participants.
Throughout the year, participants were monitored with cameras, body movement sensors, and electronic surveys (“Six Scientists to Spend 365 days in isolation”). In addition to firsthand research, scientists are studying the social health and problems of people in different situations. Although astronauts on the International Space Station are in less severe conditions than future Mars travellers, scientists can observe their social behavior and predict these actions will be more severe on Mars.
Researchers have also studied reports from the military and first responders to predict the effects of high stress on social interaction. Through study of social behaviors and reactions of similar occupations, NASA concluded that social therapy and training before space flight could be extremely beneficial to the social health of astronauts on the mission (Vasterling). Through these studies, researchers hope to discover problems before they are encountered on the real mission, so they can be avoided.
The challenges faced by experimental and research groups have led to a variety of proposed solutions for the Mars mission. One option that is emerging with recent advancements in technology is the use of virtual reality as a therapeutic exercise for astronauts or as a substitute for their usual human interaction on Earth. A recent study has found that virtual reality systems can be used to treat anxiety disorders such as social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (Wu). The same techniques used to treat these disorders are being considered for astronauts on long space missions.
If astronauts are able to experience relaxing or familiar settings through virtual reality, the effects of social isolation and confinement will likely be decreased and the astronauts’ social health will improve. The virtual reality systems allow astronauts to spend time by themselves in a simulated world, which also lessens the effects of confinement and lack of privacy on productivity. Some researchers are even considering the use of virtual reality to replace human interaction for astronauts.
If artificial intelligence technology continues to develop, astronauts may be able to nteract with virtual people to help combat the potential conflicts arising from confinement with a small group. This would allow astronauts to experience social diversity while in space. In the most recent HI-SEAS experiment, participants were also given access to a virtual reality system while in the dome. Participants used this system for anything from building complicated structures in an architecture simulator to experiencing a recorded Thanksgiving dinner with their families back home (Drake).
In a confined environment, these systems provided a comforting and entertaining way for “astronauts” to spend their free time and adjust to life in isolation. According to a researcher from the HI-SEAS experiment, the results from the first half of the data look “promising” for the success of the virtual reality use (Drake). In a future manned Mars mission, virtual reality will likely play a large role in boosting the social health of astronauts. In addition to impacting the social interactions of astronauts, human travel to Mars will influence society on Earth. As seen through past space missions, “the impact of seeing Earth from space.. ramatically affect[ed] our relationship to the natural world” (Dick).
The space age allowed humans to see a different perspective of Earth in the universe, and it changed the general public’s perspective of Earth’s importance. During the peak of the space program, environmental conservation efforts grew tremendously and a push to preserve our fragile home planet was started (Dick). Just as sending humans to space and the moon affected the lives and perspectives of society, sending humans to Mars will change those ideas yet again. In all of history, humans have never set foot on a foreign planet.
Such a tremendous event can change current ideas of the limitations of humans and the world. It is impossible to know at this time, however, if the reactions will be positive or negative. Will the possibility of a new home planet decrease respect for Earth? Or will it fuel even more advancements in science and technology that save lives and change the world for the better? Whatever the outcome, a manned Mars mission will change life on Earth dramatically. In addition to the change of perspective, researcher Azam Shaghaghi predicts that “only a worldwide cooperation… could succeed [in travelling to Mars)” (Shaghaghi).
Since this project requires large amounts of money and highly advanced technology, it will be achieved most quickly through international collaboration. If countries from around the world unite for a common cause, this could increase global unity. The collaboration of governments most often leads to feelings of connection between citizens, so this project has the potential to increase global connectedness and peace worldwide. It will also have varying effects on different groups. For example, large aerospace companies and organizations will gain a huge source of profit by travelling to Mars.
The scientific community will benefit from increased research opportunities and different methods for studying other planets. This mission will likely become a major focus of the media, so the public will learn about it largely from journalists. Opinions on the mission will also likely be spread through social media and the news (Shaghaghi). Taxpayers and stakeholders will likely be impacted because a Mars trip will be extremely expensive. With all of these differing perspectives on a future mission, social interactions will be greatly influenced.
Human Mars travel will have dramatic social impacts on both astronauts and humans on Earth. Although there is always the possibility of new issues arising, researchers hope to identify and combat any potential problems before the mission. Through study of these impacts, scientists may learn more about human interaction in general, which can lead to an improved standard of living on Earth. A manned Mars mission will open up a world of possibility for social study and have a major impact on human life on Earth because of the new perspectives gained from this research.