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Human missions to Mars will represent not only a departure from the relative protection and proximity of low Earth orbit but also the way space missions are currently conducted. Traveling at 180,000 miles per second, radiofrequency communication will require up to 20 minutes to reach Mars from Earth. Extended periods of communication blackout may leave the Mars-nauts without Earth contact for weeks. Crews will be on their own to recover from mission complications, including serious crew member illness or injury. These conditions dictate unique applications of telemedicine.

Exploration of the solar system has captured the imagination of scientists and artists for centuries. The U.S. and other space-faring nations now plan to take the first step by examining the requirements for a human mission to Mars. A three-year journey to Mars will test the limits of our technical and human experience. Maintenance of crew mental and physical health is of utmost importance to mission success. Several critical technologies must be developed to enable healthy and productive crews during Mars missions. The technology development process must begin now, by identifying technology and research requirements, so that the necessary systems are ready when the decision is made to leave Earth and travel to Mars.