[Psychological aspects of training for and implementation of a piloted expedition to Mars]

Reviewed are the modern notions of the main psychological concerns regarding a mission to Mars which are maintenance of mental health, high professional reliability, and successful readaptation of the Martian crew on return to Earth. The unprecedent trail-blazing interplanetary mission distinguished by autonomy, long period, international crew and a broad range of tasks to tend will set particularly difficult requirements to the psychological support system. Among them prioritized are purposeful character building and training of future crew members already in childhood and youth. The primary goal is to bring up personality with anthropocosmic thinking as a professional quality that will eventually determine personal and professional reliability. Within the system of psychological support, the central place should be given to monitoring of crew mental heath and behavior, and preventive an corrective measures. The longer Martian day (24 hr. 36 min.) rises the issue of effective adaptation to this factor. Special simulators will be required aboard the vehicle to help the crew refresh skills in manipulation of the dynamic board systems. The program of psychological support to the Martian crew must be thoroughly tested in model studies (Antarctic field, ground-based experiments, orbital flights, Lunar base).