How important are long-duration flights, near Earth, when it comes to exploring the moon, and other planets?
I think it’s just very important to understand the environment you work in, and understand some of the challenges that we have. The- the station’s been an incredible platform for researching some of the long-duration type issues. Certainly, the moon is kind of an intermediary. But when we start talking Mars transit times and then getting into the Mars environment, then back to Earth, it’s an incredibly important thing to understand and know ahead of time what kind of counter-measures you’re going to need, how you’re going to feel, how you’re going to be able to operate, what kind of challenges you’re going to, going to have. So long-duration in low-Earth orbit kind of gives you a- a controlled environment — a handle in that. You won’t have, when you go on a Mars mission, the ability to just come back in a matter of a day. You’re going- to need to be able to survive on your own and do the right thing. Thank you for talking with us today. This has been our interview with Charlie Hobaugh
