March 28, 2009

This is really cool. Really. Good on them Russians to do this and pay the candidates well.

Unfortunately, there is one fundamental problem with this experiment. Namely, an inaccurate representation of psychological state.

1. I am on land. I know that when I stepped into this experiment. I know that, barring one of the other members attempting to kill me, I am going to be safe. The probabilities of something going wrong over a 6-month trip to Mars are significantly higher than this experiment purports it to be. I’d be a whole lot more anxious on a real journey to Mars.

2. I know I can “get out” when I damn well please. That is clearly not an option when it comes to a real journey. Again, knowing that, just makes you a whole lot calmer.

So yeah, this is a ‘humane’ simulation. But accurate it is not.

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