NASA Is Already Studying What Sort of Person Is Best Suited For Mars (blastingnews.com)

MarkWhittington writes: The first crew to set forth to Mars are likely in Middle School or High School, but NASA is already delving into what criteria it should use to select the interplanetary explorers. That they should be physically fit and experts in their fields are a given. But the space agency is keen that the people who will set forth to Mars in 20 years or so should be of a particular psychological type. NASA has granted Johns Hopkins money to conduct a study into the problem.

Comments

Gonna go out on a limb here

[redmid17]

It's probably going to be an exceedingly intelligent, physically fit, mentally well-adjusted white man

You know like 90%+ of the astronauts they've ever picked. Optional: Actually having been in space, spent time on the ISS, or experienced crushing loneliness for months/years at a time

If loneliness were a pre-req, us slashdotters would cut to the front of the line!

Isn't it obvious?

[mykepredko]

Somebody who loves potatoes!

let me save you some time.

[nimbius]

1. Donald Trump: BRING HIM HOME.
2. Martin Schkreli: are we entirely sure martial air is toxic? this is for science damn you.
3. Justin Bieber: yes...but...can we sing in martian atmosphere...thats the real question.

Make sure to ask the important questions!

[scunc]

Question 1: Are you physically fit?
Question 2: Are you an expert in your field?
Question 3: Do you like potatoes?

---
That's one small potato for (a) man ...

Re:The profile

[tnk1]

In all likelihood, you are responding to a joke. If you are experiencing some odd airflow over your head, that is the likely cause.

Definitely a job for a southern redneck

[Anon-Admin]

Dont mine long hours alone.
They love things that go fast.
Could use a simulated Deer hunt for entertainment.
Can fix anything with duck tape and some wire.
Will eat just about anything.
There real good at growing stuff.

What more could you ask for?

Just need to outfit the ship to look like a pickup and the habitat to look like a Winnebago. Maybe Offer a million $ to the first one to shoot a deer on mars. :p

Rockets

[slashping]

NASA should focus on rockets, not people. Let's first see a rocket that can make it to Mars surface, pick up a ton of rocks, and fly back to Earth. When you've shown you can do that, then you can start looking for people and doing silly tests.

The shortlist

[wonkey_monkey]

Matt Damon
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Taylor Kitsch