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[Gunner-Chan]

Actually. Nasa has a position for very smart or bright people that couldn't take the stress of going into space (Or in a more cynical way, too smart and educated to risk getting killed by accidents). They call them Ground and Mission control.

[Vector]

Exactly, that's the point.

I would not survive the boot camp.  Therefore, I would not go.  When I say squishy mathematician, I mean squishy.  I will stay on the ground and run numbers, just like any other squishy mathematician with a grain of brains would.

And given the assumption of a murder getting into this, I really don't think I'd be down with that.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I'm sure pretty much anyone could survive takeoff, the worst case scenario is that it knocks them out cold during launch. So whomever is piloting should probably be the most fit.

Actually. Nasa has a position for very smart or bright people that couldn't take the stress of going into space (Or in a more cynical way, too smart and educated to risk getting killed by accidents). They call them Ground and Mission control.

But we're trying to start a mining colony on Mars here. There's a two minute lag for radio signals. Very smart people are going to be needed on site. PTTG has a point though, if they survive boot camp everything should be fine in the physical department.

[counting]

I want to point out the time windows may require much longer period. A trip to Mars in current launching ability will take 6 months instead of 6 weeks to reach. (And possible stay in space for 7-10 months if using gradual orbital breaks to slow down for landing). And the launching windows only happens every 2 years. (Due to Mars Earth relative position). Hence every supply run will have to wait 2 years. And the whole trip and back will take 2 and half years to 3 years at least. (or 4.5~5 years, 6.5~7 years increment of 2). This scenario is doable in current tech level. And each launch is probably only able to support 4 to 6 people. (Unless you launch multiple ships simultaneously, and assembly it on LEO, but that is difficult and my takes many years like ISS. Even if it does, it's capacity is limited, probably not able to exceed 20+)

[GlyphGryph]

Nasa only sends a small amount of people to space, and has the ability and political motivation to select for the best of the best. There's only ever been 300 or so astronauts, because none of them are passengers - they are all mission crucial with crews that small, and the failure of any of them can ruin the mission and have disastrous consequences.

Actual passengers, like in this example, who function essentially as cargo for most of the actual space stuff? You don't need qualifications anywhere near as high.

[GlyphGryph]

And given the assumption of a murder getting into this, I really don't think I'd be down with that.

But it would be like RL Mafia! (j/k)

Seriously though, with tensions and dangers like they are, a possible murder isn't surprising with the numbers that seemed to be present here. And it doesn't sound like it would be the central risk, either.

[Leafsnail]

Pfft, you just need to make sure you commit the scheduled murder and cause the two fatal accidents.  Then you'll be perfectly safe for the rest of the trip!

[MetalSlimeHunt]

And given the assumption of a murder getting into this, I really don't think I'd be down with that.

But it would be like RL Mafia! (j/k)

Seriously though, with tensions and dangers like they are, a possible murder isn't surprising with the numbers that seemed to be present here. And it doesn't sound like it would be the central risk, either.

Anything that isn't a murder of passion doesn't make sense in space travel though. You are almost certainly fucked if you kill another crewmate mid-trip. Either they were vital to the mission, in which case everyone dies, or they weren't. If they weren't, then either the crew knows you did it and will kill you for it, or they don't and everyone dies because paranoia.

[Leafsnail]

If they're expecting murders and fatal accidents you'd hope that they have plenty of backups and contigency plans, though.

[Gunner-Chan]

In short. If I saw this in something mailed to me, I'd check the company to see if they just happen to be named Union Areospace Corporation or Weyland-Yutani. This just reeks of corporate lazyness and corrpution in the name of a cheap resealable colony to a government without care for the little people doing the job.

[GlyphGryph]

I was going to assume it WAS going to be a murder of passion (or someone just having a mental breakdown). And yeah, Leafsnal managed to beat me on the whole redundancy aspect that the mission seems to be accounting for.

[Darvi]

I think I could outsmart the psychological tests. Now I only have to find out how to destroy the world while up there.

[PTTG??]

I was going to assume it WAS going to be a murder of passion (or someone just having a mental breakdown). And yeah, Leafsnal managed to beat me on the whole redundancy aspect that the mission seems to be accounting for.

Yeah, six months with a personal closet, shared toilets, and 90% of you either studying or doing nothing at all? SOMEBODY's gonna die.

Frankly, it's a much better survival rate than your default ship to the New World.

I want to point out the time windows may require much longer period. A trip to Mars in current launching ability will take 6 months instead of 6 weeks to reach. (And possible stay in space for 7-10 months if using gradual orbital breaks to slow down for landing). And the launching windows only happens every 2 years. (Due to Mars Earth relative position). Hence every supply run will have to wait 2 years. And the whole trip and back will take 2 and half years to 3 years at least. (or 4.5~5 years, 6.5~7 years increment of 2). This scenario is doable in current tech level. And each launch is probably only able to support 4 to 6 people. (Unless you launch multiple ships simultaneously, and assembly it on LEO, but that is difficult and my takes many years like ISS. Even if it does, it's capacity is limited, probably not able to exceed 20+)

Thanks, those are much better numbers. Incidentally, the light lag varies between 3 minutes (rare) and 22 (not quite so rare). That's up to 44 minutes between signal-response.

I guess I should go into a little more detail about the organization running the show. Well, they aren't going to coddle you; this is a corporate project, and you are an employee. On the other hand, you are a well-trained, impossible to (quickly) replace, expensive employee. Everyone from the janitor to the site overseer gets complete medical, dental, and etc... partially because caring for very sick personnel is extremely expensive and they can't just let you die, so they are proactive about care.

Also, the core of this organization is ex-NASA, and your fellows in the mission are virtually all scientific idealists. The company treats them as just what they are: the 300 people who are the very best at what they do.

[counting]

A fun fact. The only real private space corporation - SpaceX. (The only one to date launch a spacecraft and land back safely), it's founder is also the co-founder of PayPal, and Tesla Motors (selling pure electrical cars). You may take that into account what a corporation it may be like.

And due to my personal special diet requirement and health, I am probably not able to pass any physical test. But I would love to join the Earth side supporting team. (You probably need 20 to 30 times more people on Earth, not counting the outsourced and temporary workers)

P.S. I got the impression it seems many on DF forum are not in good health. (More time for FUN?)

[Levi]

P.S. I got the impression it seems many on DF forum are not in good health. (More time for FUN?)

Well, we all have good reason to be paranoid of doctors, right?