Manned Expedition to Mars - Realistic Review of Constraints and Possible Solutions

I just thought I'd start a thread to see if we couldn't collate some of
the main constraints, in terms of technology, human constraints and
willpower that might prevent a manned mission to Mars. I'll put the
main objections to a manned mission under those three headings, but if
anyone suggests any other broad categories that would be good.

If I'm right, NASA estimate that any manned mission to Mars would be a
three-year round journey. 6 months to Mars, 18 months to study and wait
for the window to return, and then 6 months back. Does anyone have any
other estimates?

Here are some of the constraints I've come up with off the top of my
head:

Technology
* Problems with fuel storage and ability of rockets to reach Mars
* Possible dangers involved with extended communication delay (must be
able to repair shuttle/craft autonomously)
* Inability of shuttle craft to return once departed and distance from
recovery attempts
* Possible requirement of unmanned and animal missions in order to test
feasability and resultant financial and time costs
* Unforseen problems with landing

Human constraints
* Serious psychological obstacles. High risk of fatality combined with
extended periods of isolation in high-risk, high-demand environment.
* Social obstacles: a permanently enclosed environment with strangers -
likely to generate interpersonal conflict which would be disastrous if
it could not be adequately resolved. On the other hand, a single
astronaut would undoubtedly suffer severe problems with loneliness.
* Physiological problems: these range from having adequate access to
food and water and sanitary facilities to physiological reactions to
extended periods of weightlessness like reductions in bone density and
muscular waste
* Absolute isolation from medical facilities

Willpower
* Clear financial cost associated with producing mission hardware and
cost of prior unmanned and animal missions
* Problems with public and governmental will - may be hard to convince
wide swathes of the public of desirability of such a mission, also a
highly bellicose and inward-looking political period not conducive to
exploration and science advancement
* Necessity of intergovernmental cooperation.


So, these are some of the problems I can think of with any manned
missions to Mars. Can anyone suggest any more, or begin to suggest ways
we can overcome them?

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