How can we assure that the team gets along during the mission? 

Imagine taking a seven-month car trip, one in which you couldn't get out of the car. Who would you choose to go with you? 

When it comes to choosing crews for long-duration spaceflights, NASA looks at: the skills needed for the mission, the ability to work with others under stress, and the compatibility of team members and complementary characteristics. Leaders are chosen for crews based on their ability to coordinate and motivate crews, and to function in nominal (normal) and crisis situations.

An extended-duration mission of over two years to Mars will have astronauts dealing with a long time spent in confinement, the need to internally deal with emergency situations (with possibly no support from Earth), and the impossibility of a rapid return.

The crew will be living in confined quarters and must be carefully chosen and prepared so that quarrels do not break out among them. Arguments and nervous stress situations must be avoided at all costs so that they do not turn into serious mission critical problems.

Astronaut Shannon W. Lucid and Cosmonauts Yuriy Onufrienko and Yuriy Usachov aboard STS-79	Apart from the physical considerations, the psychological issues confronting the crews are of utmost importance. Crew selection, training, and mission support must all be designed to address mental health concerns.
Test facilities like the Advanced Life Support Chamber at the Johnson Space Center allowed four crewmembers to spend 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days in an enclosed self-contained habitat between 1995 and 1997 . These tests were designed to prepare for long-duration, on-orbit Moon and Mars missions. Systems were tested as well as compatibility and stress factors influencing crews. The Bioplex facility at the Johnson Space Center was designed to continue the research done in the Advanced Life Support Chamber.	Advanced Life Support Chamber Commander Nigel Packham
A simulated Mars outpost located in a region on Earth like Antarctica or the Arctic (which have some similarities to Mars) could serve as a test bed for Mars mission technologies and human factors studies.  A Mars research base might prototype improved solar power and portable energy systems, as well as systems for recovering useable water from urine and hydroponics for growing fresh vegetables. Doctors could also study the physiological, psychological, and sociological effects of long stays in an alien environment. Click here to see the Mars Society's plan for a Mars Arctic Research Station. Several issues must be considered when choosing the crews, size (number of crewmembers), composition (pilots, scientists, engineers, doctors, mechanics, etc.), gender (men, women, married couples, etc.), and nationality (cultural issues). The group dynamics of a smaller (three to four member) crew is different from that of a larger (seven to eight member) crew.
Research has shown women are as suitable as men for space travel, especially when we take into consideration the fact that physical strength is much less important in zero g than it is on Earth. Further, women may be more suitable for space missions than men in some ways.  Women generally weigh less and, therefore, consume less food and oxygen than men.	Astronaut Catherine (Cady) Coleman
Also, it has been reported in some studies that women are more radiation resistant than men. Furthermore, additional research has indicated that women may be superior to men at withstanding the combined stresses of space.  To read about leadership and small group dynamics in spaceflight visit this site.  For more information about communication between crew members click here.
The Mars mission crews will need to have the right group composition, and a balanced gender and cultural mixture. Astronauts will need to get good cross-cultural training if the crew is an international mix. They will need to be trained together for a prolonged period of time (as crews are now) and have some choice as to who is selected for the team (as commanders do now).	The crew of STS-99
Astronauts Jerry Carr and Bill Pogue aboard Skylab 3	Skylab astronauts were found to be more productive when they were allowed to select the order in which they performed assigned tasks than when Mission Control programmed them. Evidence from Antarctic winter-over expeditions also found that individuals prefer to make choices themselves rather than have them made for them.
Self-selection and scheduling of tasks can give crews a sense of personal responsibility and achievement, which can increase motivation and morale.  Since certain psychological problems will arise due to confinement issues, habitation requirements such as the self-selection and regulation of tasks, personal space, regular exercise, and good communications with friends and family back on Earth will help to ensure mission success.  For more information, check out the links below: To take the Astronaut Quiz and see if you are cut out for long-duration flights click here. Living In Space: Space Environments   Questions to think about: What characteristics do you think are most important for an astronaut to have on a long-duration mission to Mars? Why? How should a commander handle conflict between two astronauts during a mission when this conflict might endanger the safety or success of a mission?

Next... Mars Mission Design (pg. 11 of 17)