Today on CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/06/0 ... index.html

The above article describes some of the medical/social issues that are being examined in regards to long distance space travel. Specifically, in regards to a hypothetical trip to Mars.

I don't see the article as being groundbreaking at all. Most of the conclusions/observations could be made by people with no medical degree at all. Nothing ran counter to common sense. I do see it is interesting that the tests are being done and that its getting some press time.

My company has worked with NASA for the past ten years to conduct basic research to understand the fundamental nature of radiation, matter, and their interaction, including the study of cosmic background radiation and deep space radiation. Cumulative radiation exposure for the astronauts on long space flights still represents the single biggest medical hurdle for a successful (i.e. no dead astronauts) manned Mars mission. There have been a number of proposals to mitigate the effects, but no breakthroughs yet.

I've found it interesting for a while to think on the problems of simple cold to be dealt with at almost all the likely places to visit in the Solar neighborhood. In some ways Antarctica is a useful proving-ground.