Long-duration Missions

Long-duration missions refer to space missions or scientific expeditions that are carried out over an extended period, typically ranging from several months to multiple years. These missions often involve crewed spacecraft or automated probes designed to explore distant celestial bodies, conduct research, or gather data over time. The challenges of long-duration missions include life support, psychological effects on crew members, resource management, and the physical impacts of prolonged exposure to microgravity or radiation. Such missions are crucial for advancing our understanding of space and the potential for human habitation beyond Earth, as they test human endurance, technology, and the feasibility of sustaining life over lengthy periods in space environments. Examples include missions to the International Space Station (ISS), Mars expeditions, and interplanetary missions that gather data from asteroids or comets.