La conquête de la planète Mars : enjeux médico-psychologiques et éthiques

The desire to fly has always captivated humanity. Technological progress has made this dream possible by opening pathways through the air and by generating an even more ambitious project: escaping from Earth's gravity. Nowadays, after orbital and lunar spaceflights, the planet Mars is the one that breathes into human's new hope of conquest. This journey to the limits of the extreme, from where no return is guaranteed, imposes unprecedented constraints on man. They may put to the test his adaptive abilities and reveal the conflictual dimension of “cosmonautical” motivation. The literature data bring to light both issues of this singular motivation and psychic disorders that may occur in the harsh environment of space. Confronting this high-risk business, a psychopathological thinking is required regarding the commitment of those planning to volunteer for the first trip to Mars. Moreover, this exploration of unknown spaces, which would not be without repercussion for humanity, imposes an ethical questioning.