which requires preliminary work to bring people into a metal cage attached to a rocket. Only a dozen countries have launched objects into orbit, and the list of countries that can send people into space is much shorter (retired space shuttles, the United States is probably not in the above above). Rockets but only technologies are getting better and cheaper, and there are plans for more (both government and commercial) for man to explore space.

• March
• One is now looking for people interested in becoming astronauts train for 8 years, and go on a round trip to Mars (and also be part of this mission televised worldwide ). The first team will be democratically elected by six teams of four astronauts and the launch is scheduled for September 2022. [Url]
Iran plans to launch a monkey into space somewhere in February 2013. Iran aims to send man into space in 2020 and put someone on the moon in 2025. (And Iran has already sent a rat, two turtles and worms into space.) [URL]

MRI astronauts who spent over a month in the region show that prolonged exposure to microgravity can damage the eyes and parts of the brain. The problems are similar to those with intracranial hypertension - when the brain is under pressure pushing the skull and orbits. [Url]

A 520-day mission simulation in March found that astronauts might need to keep similar hours to the Earth or they will have trouble sleeping and possibly acquire some mood disorders. This study is based on land affect plans manned missions to Mars, and could also have implications for people with interrupted sleep and prolonged exposure to artificial light. [Url]

If you want to read something more interesting and evocative, see this link (but not totally random!) Post Techdirt.