Human missions to other planets of the Solar System, especially to Mars, are widely seen as the next step of human exploration and as a logical evolution of the International Space Station Programme.
When all the technological problems are solved, there will still remain a major challenge:
In current scenarios, four to six human beings will have to spend two or three years in a very confined space. Limited interaction with Earth (due to communication time delays) will require the crew to rely on each other to solve problems.
How can we select a team that will master this challenge? How can we prepare them in the best possible way? Can we maintain their motivation and performance at the highest level?
To answer these questions experts from backgrounds as diverse as diving, mountain climbing, Antarctic research and spaceflight will present and exchange their experiences in a one and a half day conference (26.6.02 pm, 27.6.02) in Barcelona, Spain.