One critical problem remaining to be solved before humans can undertake deep space missions lasting months or even years is how to counter the negative effects extended weightlessness has on the human body. Aggressive exercise programs during flight help, but more is probably needed.
The Mars Society, the world's leading advocacy group dedicated to putting humans on Mars, is pursuing a new project aimed at trying to determine how feasible supplying artificial gravity to a Mars ship may actually be. Costing between $250,000 and $500,000-- not a huge sum by any means-- the TEMPO project will give volunteers the opportunity to participate in a real space mission. A small probe will be launched into orbit. Attached to the probe will be a tether; a counterweight will be attached to the other end of the tether. If all goes well, the probe and the counterweight will revolve around their common center of gravity, held together by the tether. Centrifugal force created by the revolving bodies will act as artificial gravity.
If such a system can be shown to work, a long stride towards Mars and beyond will have been taken-- in this case, by private individuals working together.
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