Trail Baboon has reached a milestone – TEN YEARS! In honor of our anniversary, I am re-running a piece from our first week (with Dale’s approval!) I was going to change the question, but it’s turned out to be eerily prescient in our current situation.
SIX MEN IN A TUB
An intriguing human experiment has begun in the western part of Moscow at the Institute for Medical and Biological Problems.
Six men just started a 520 day “mission” to Mars. They are enclosed in “a series of windowless steel capsules” for the duration, with enough food and activities and chores to keep them busy. There’s also ample time for relaxation. The “voyagers” will have to exercise two hours a day but will only be able to shower once a week.
Uh oh.
There are many obstacles to overcome in a real journey to Mars. There would have to be a shield to protect the humans from solar radiation. And psychologists predict that one the greatest emotional hazards is the likelihood that the crew would begin to grow tired of each other’s company. But at least in a genuine Martian trip there would be a sense of excitement and anticipation of arriving on the planet – something that’s missing in this effort.
Perhaps the greatest hurdle in this make believe exercise is to get six grownups to pretend for almost a year and a half that they can’t just walk out for a smoke or a bit of vodka. After all, it takes skilled actors years of training to get you to suspend reality for two hours on a stage. How long can fact-based scientists and researchers last?
Because a similar effort ten years ago ended badly (sexual harassment allegations, fistfights), the mission commander is quoted in an AP article as saying “Each crew member has the right to end the experiment and walk out. We have had such negative experience in the past, and I hope it won’t happen during this experiment.”
Double uh oh.
Which guy will make a bid to scuttle the mission after 500 days because he can’t stand “Commander Flatulence” or would just like to get out and feel the sunshine? The longer you’re in, the greater the pressure to stay in. And the longer you’re in, the greater the leverage for anyone who threatens to leave.
This sounds like a twisted reality show disguised as a scientific experiment. All it needs a name and a theme song, like that ditty that introduced “The Brady Bunch”.
Here’s the story of a group of fellas
Who were simulating flying into space.
They were scientists and they all liked each other
Which is not commonplace.
They’re pretending to go to a planet.
If you’re Martian it’s the place that you belong.
In the movies when the Martians meet the Earthlings,
they never get along.
Till this mission where these fellas met this planet.
Well not really but they tried to make believe.
They had almost made it there when it started.
That’s when everyone declared “I’m going to leave.”
I’m going to leave. I’m going to leave.
I can’t stand you, and you, and you I’m going to leave.
I’m going to leave. I’m going to leave.
This is Moscow we’re on Earth I’m going to leave!
What would you need to survive 520 days enclosed in a series of windowless steel capsules with five other people, all pretending that you can’t go outside?
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