Integrated simulations of Mars flights on the ISS

Abstract

The human quest towards the exploration of the solar system and beyond will likely continue to grow in the next few decades. Many scientific and technological challenges still need to be approached and solved to enable long deep space human exploration. Once answers to these challenges are available, they will be integrated in the flight plans as ad hoc operational strategies. For the solution of specific scientific and technological problems, experiments using ground analogues may provide optimal responses; however, only the International Space Station (ISS) can play the role of integrated analogue, where the impact of micro-gravity, radiation, living and psychological conditions that astronauts will face during a deep space cruise, can be mimicked at the same time, in part or in whole. Today the ISS is a unique technological and scientific platform that enables researchers from all over the world to work on innovative experiments that could not be performed anywhere else. However, it is conceivable to use the deep space analogue features of the ISS to perform integrated tests of those operational strategies needed to allow for deep space voyages, towards a potential final integrated in-space test of the entire voyage to Mars, with a fidelity as high as achievable. This utilization strategy for the ISS would help focusing research and technology on open questions for deep space exploration, also enabling further tests of the journey to Mars using other advanced platforms that will be available on Moon orbit or surface in the near future. It will also provide the ISS with the rank of “springboard” towards deep space for the general public, increasing the awareness for human space exploration. In this paper we present the ISS4Mars idea, underlining its major goals and challenges.