That doesn't mean that the cult of the celeb has died, or that the emphasis on vicarious space-hopping has faded from the few that make the decisions on the nature of the missions. It was just too good a deal in the late sixties--they keep trying it and it keeps not working, this celebrity stuff. Merrygoround trips on the Shuttle to the SSI and back again, over and over...
The body cannot take the abuse that manned flight to Mars represents--at least not with what we know now. And getting back...? What we do know now, with a revved-up focus, is how to send some really wonderful robotics to Mars. And the bonus--we don't have to bring them home.
Indeed. :-) I have friends flying those missions. However, I was invloved with a Mars sample and return design. (that one does have to get home! LOL)
Balderdash! There are no physical stresses that an appropriately-designed spacecraft can't accomodate. Hell, even WALT DISNEY knew what was necessary back in the 1950's.