Scientists Reveal Jealousies on Mock ‘Mission to Mars’

Scientists Reveal Jealousies on Mock ‘Mission to Mars’

http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-reveal-jealousies-mission-mars-173527695.html

This is a follow up story to the blog reported earlier on the 520 day mock mission to Mars.

The Russian program director of the mission reported is wasn’t all smooth sailing for the 6 man multinational crew. The mission was designed to test the long-term effects of stress and isolation. The psychologists witnessed conflicts between crew members and the command team because the work load was not always evenly distributed. Jealousies emerged over who received more news from their loved ones. This sense of jealousy is similar to those experienced by draftees in their first months away from home. Doctors were on the ready to massage hurt egos and diffuse any explosive disputes. No one’s physical health suffered and the crew remained a single team. The 3 Russians, 1 Chinese, 1 French, and 1 Italian were each paid about $100,000 for the experiment.

Being paid $192.31 a day with food and lodging included doesn’t seem too bad. But being confined in small metal containers without much outside contact and a language barrier with other smelly men doesn’t seem like a good job for the money. The only positive of the job is if it someday helps future astronauts make a successful trip to Mars and back.