Posted: September 7th, 2024

Mars Mission

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Mars Mission
People dream of visiting and living in mars according to NASA. Space explorers not only find conducive habitable conditions but explores to discover microbial life in the terrestrial planet. For example, collecting samples of unique rocks and soil on the surface of Mars (Szocik, et, al, page 793-799). Mars’s mission provides information and knowledge to address issues of future astronauts, for instance, psychological problems. The paper describes the psychological challenges of mars mission.
July to August is the best time to travel to Mars because the position of earth and mars are in the best place compared to other days when the earth and mars are far from each other in orbit. Flying to Mars is tiresome because astronauts cannot stop in between the journey as well as the use of new maps in case of loss of direction. Flying to Mars takes six months, which becomes tiresome, affecting the psychological state of astronauts. Mars mission requires mental stability and endurance according to the history of spaceflight.

The psychological challenges is considered serious than technological challenges even after using the most powerful rocket, the space Xs falcon. Psychologists’ trainer prepares astronauts through enhancing a connection to home where the astronauts can communicate with families as well as doctors, although astronauts get disconnected from their loved ones according to the history of spaceflight. Messages sent to earth take as long as forty minutes to reach the surface.
Psychological issues faced in the mass mission include sleep disturbances and physical emotions leading to the occurrence of sleep disorder, decreasing the adaptive characteristics of astronauts. Astronauts in a mass mission get little sleep and go through disturbances, especially in high altitude area (Szocik, et ,al, page 793-799).The sleep disorder leads to stress, which leads to temporomandibular disorder (TMD) caused by stress and regulation of melatonin secretion. Pressure in mass missions is experienced in places of extreme conditions, for instance, increased heartbeat and low production of saliva, especially in the morning.
Microgravity, life-threatening situations, monotony, and sensory stimulation are examples of psychological challenges experienced in a mars mission (Szocik, et, al, page 793-799). In two to three years, astronauts live in microgravity, which restricts them from stepping outside and get some air. Astronauts in microgravity appear puffy and angry, stressful to astronauts. Microgravity causes muscles to shrink, causing mass muscle reduction, which leads to pain, uncomfortably, and depression.
Astronauts suffer depression, especially caused homesickness, which triggers behavioral problems. Astronauts spend a long time in space; therefore, interacting with different people from different cultures and backgrounds affects most astronauts leading to aggression and, therefore, violence among the team members. Paranoia attempts to commit suicide severe anxiety hysteria are some of the mental breakdown experienced in space during a mars mission. For instance, in 1973, astronauts faced a stressful moment in scope to the point of ignoring communication with the earth NASA team. Astronauts don’t get the same lights compared to the ground, therefore, experiencing sensory stimulation as well as insomnia due to lack of sleep.
Astronauts in a mass mission require various psychological traits to succeed in its mission, where astronauts should have as the right psychological personality (Landon, et, al., page, 73.-563). High emotional stability is an example of a psychological feature where most of the time, due to depression, astronauts face poor interrelationships, which may lead to fights and disagreements; therefore, a person with stable and can control emotions especially aggression and anxiety is essential. Acceptance and openness is an important trait.
Astronauts experience depression which instead of engaging and sharing problems, most astronauts end up isolating themselves, which can pose serious issues such as a mental breakdown. High resilience in a stressful environment- Some people are active and can cope with stressful environments, which is requires in mars mission. Resistance, especially in life-threatening situations, saves most astronauts from danger through the use of stress coping strategies.
Mars missions go through conflicts between team members; therefore, the sense of humor is a necessary trait to cope with a psychological issue (Landon, et, al., page, 73.-563). Humor defuses the problem by distracting an argument of a stressful situation with funny and humorous opinions. Humor solves conflicts and creates a warm and friendly environment, especially during the violence.
Astronauts go through a personality test before going to a Mars mission as well as a stress test. Self-awareness and teamwork skills are important, and self-awareness creates confidence in astronauts, especially in being aware of their personality, therefore, avoiding situations and being positive to avoid psychological disturbances, especially from conflict. Teamwork enhances cooperation and good interpersonal relationship, thus avoiding conflicts.
Steps are taken to ensure astronaut’s mental health beginning with a reassessment of astronauts through a health care program (Venables, Noah and Gloria Leon page, 18-38), Psychological support includes psychiatric evaluation, intromission psychiatric support, and treatment of severe psychotic breakdown. Psychotic break down is treated by the use of psychoactive drugs and intervention when needed. Training astronauts on self-knowledge allows straightforward interpretation of psychological issues in the ground. Training and subconscious awareness are essential to enhance a clear understanding of psychological problems.
The introduction of psychology studies among the astronaut team is critical, especially in handling personal mental health issues Encouraging positive energy among the astronauts by declaring positive and use of encouraging words in times of difficulties (Bettiol and Laura, page 1-10). Enhance openness in case of a problem instead of isolation, which leads to deep states of depression.
Encouraging astronaut to have a good sleep in case of calm states, especially in places with no disturbances to reduce fatigue (Bettiol and Laura, page 1-10). Learning the reality about mars is essential to get ready psychologically for the extended mission as well as keeping calm; for instance, the NASA make various predictions concerning which prepares the astronauts and protects their mental state.
As a clinical psychologist promoting psychological resilience through the use of information and communication technology is essential, which is used for mental treatment (Roda, Aldo, page 18-26). The use of structured subjective measures is the most useful way of handling astronaut’s mental health state. Mental disorders are different from all astronauts therefore and assessing astronauts at a personal level is vital. Stress management, offering psychological training, positive psychology, and cognitive restructuring are example of ways applied by clinical psychiatrists.
Clinical psychologist offers positive psychology to mentally disturbed astronauts which creates resilience and enhance positive emotions. Virtual reality and internet-based treatment are the modern and most used type in mental health treatment methods in clinical psychology. A patient’s health questionnaire is administered for mental disorders, which assesses depression levels in a person.
The communication and information technology module is prepared and applied in a Mars mission in determining the interference of day to day activities of the astronauts and its effect on mental health (Roda, Aldo, page 18-26). Anxiety in astronauts is tested by the use of an anxiety and severity impairment scale. The self-report system measures symptoms related to stress and any effects of anxiety experienced in a person. Panic attacks are recorded by the astronauts and cases of worry in a person.
The current level of happiness in a person is measured by the use of a Fordyce emotions questionnaire, which is reliable and with good relationships (Roda, Aldo, page 18-26). Systems to induce positive moods during a mars mission, are used, for instance, the park of well-being, which provides joy and relaxation during the process. Mood induction takes place by offering pictures and autobiographical recall. Evaluation and treatment of mental health during the mars mission is done weekly or monthly according to the specified time or situation at hand. Incise of any technical issue the clinical psychologists can restore the activities in the earth system.
Mars’s mission is among the most interesting exploratory missions considering distance and the duration of the task. Challenges such as psychological issues are the most experienced due to isolation of astronauts. Some of the psychological issues are brought about by microgravity issues, which creates a sense of imbalance, leading to stress and discomfort. Different astronauts from different ethnicity and background relate and stay together for almost three years, which leads to conflicts and violence. Disagreements arise due to mood changes and fatigue caused by overworking and lack of sleep. Psychological issues are severe and require a resilient mind with a great personality of mental stability.
Mental health in astronauts is maintained and controlled through training and creating awareness of the expected psychological issues. Personality and stress tests are made to check on an individual’s level of stability. A clinical psychologist is essential in every mars mission to treat mentally disturbed astronauts through the use of technologically advanced tools to detect mood as well as induce a positive attitude. Happiness and anxiety are measured through various systems that confirm the degree of stress.

Work Cited
Bettiol, Laura, et al. “Manned Mars Mission Risks Evaluation.” 69th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2018). 2018. 1-10.
Landon, Lauren Blackwell, Kelley J. Slack, and Jamie D. Barrett. “Teamwork and collaboration in long-duration space missions: Going to extremes.” American Psychologist 73.-563 (2018).
Roda, Aldo, et al. “Advanced biosensors for monitoring astronauts’ health during long-duration space missions.” Biosensors and Bioelectronics 111 (2018): 18-26.
Szocik, Konrad, Steven Abood, and Mark Shelhamer. “Psychological and biological challenges of the Mars mission viewed through the construct of the evolution of fundamental human needs.” Acta Astronautica 152 (2018): 793-799.
Venables, Noah C., and Gloria R. Leon. “Stress and Coping in Extreme Environments: Implications for a Mars Mission.” Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomé dicas 18-38 (2019).

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