# The best way to prepare humans for Mars? The moon

**URL:** <https://awg.osdr.space/t/the-best-way-to-prepare-humans-for-mars-the-moon/2769>\
**Category:** AWG Discussions\
**Tags:** moon, news, mars\
**Created:** [May 12, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/the-best-way-to-prepare-humans-for-mars-the-moon/2769 "2025-05-12T19:07:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rtscott2001](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/rtscott2001/32/5_2.png) [@rtscott2001](https://awg.osdr.space/u/rtscott2001)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/the-best-way-to-prepare-humans-for-mars-the-moon/2769/1 "2025-05-12T19:07:33Z")

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> **[The best way to prepare humans for Mars? The moon.](https://spacenews.com/the-best-way-to-prepare-humans-for-mars-the-moon/)**
>
> We’ve observed with concern a rising trend in human spaceflight discussions: the suggestion that we bypass the moon and send humans directly to Mars. In light of this, we believe it is critical to …

Cheers to AWG member @eantonse on co-authoring this popular article 🚀 🎊

[@ALSDAawg](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/alsdaawg) [@AnimalAWG](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/animalawg) [@AIMLawg](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/aimlawg) [@PlantAWG](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/plantawg) [@RLWG](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/rlwg) [@FemaleReproAWG](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/femalereproawg) [@MultiOmicsAWG](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/multiomicsawg) [@MicrobesAWG](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/microbesawg) [@HUMANawg](https://awg.osdr.space/groups/humanawg)

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**Author:** ![ekostioukhina](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/ekostioukhina/32/1452_2.png) [@ekostioukhina](https://awg.osdr.space/u/ekostioukhina)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:21am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/the-best-way-to-prepare-humans-for-mars-the-moon/2769/2 "2025-05-26T02:21:07Z")

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Indeed, important to keep the focus on what is the next step to do. A combination of long vision (aim for Mars) but with realistic smaller steps for success in the long run.

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**Author:** ![hfrancesco5](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/hfrancesco5/32/3204_2.png) [@hfrancesco5](https://awg.osdr.space/u/hfrancesco5)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 3:29am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/the-best-way-to-prepare-humans-for-mars-the-moon/2769/3 "2025-05-26T03:29:28Z")

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I agree, having a human moon-based stepping “node” would be crucial to expand what we are logistically able to do (especially with the possibility of astromining) and develop ourselves before rushing into unknown waters. Establishing habitation on the moon would serve as a technical proving ground for the human psychological and logistical challenges of long-duration isolation, and allow us to make sure that our first astronauts to Mars can benefit from years of research without ever leaving earths orbit.

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**Author:** ![Wilester2025](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/awg.osdr.space/wilester2025/32/2219_2.png) [@Wilester2025](https://awg.osdr.space/u/Wilester2025)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 3:58am UTC](https://awg.osdr.space/t/the-best-way-to-prepare-humans-for-mars-the-moon/2769/4 "2025-06-14T03:58:51Z")

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From the article “First self-recovery after landing in partial gravity: This will be the first time astronauts must self-extricate from a landing vehicle and begin functioning without a ground support team.”  
I find particularly interesting the relationship between functional frailty, mind-set and Life-Space Mobility. Had a quick try at a model for a mission life space readiness scale for (G0, G.16 and G.38) to assess astronaut mobility and independence across mission critical zones prior to landing and then after landing.