Since the last U.S. Space Shuttle flight, NASA has announced the development of a super rocket for future ventures into space. The specifications seem to offer a payload capacity little more than twice an Apollo capsule. It remains to be seen if such a small-sized craft will really serve an extended Mars flight also in planning. What are the needs of a craft and crew for really lengthy, extended deep-space flights? An analysis of the technical problems that must be surmounted for embarking on a deep-space, long-term flight runs the gamut from launch from Earth to landing on another planet. As is deducible, both biological and technical problems are mutually and simultaneously interacting hurdles. The technical logistics and the likely costs of long-term, deep-space travel add to the biological problems to be addressed and surmounted for humans to successfully engage in any cosmic ventures. The planning, experimentation, and development for that effort must begin now.
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