Are You Suitable for Long
Duration Isolation and Confinement?

Select the numbers from the seven-point scales that best reflect your responses to the following questions. Sum the results and compare your total to the recommendations provided at the end of this test.

Question #1: How likable are you? If you like people and are considered to be socially compatible by others, you would score high on this scale. If you have few friends, and get along poorly with others, you would score toward the low end of this scale. 

Question #2: Do you maintain emotional control? If you rarely become angry or lose your temper you would score high on this scale. If you frequently express anger or lose your temper, you would score toward the low end of this scale.

Question #3: Are you patient? If you rarely become impatient you would score high on this scale. If you frequently are impatient, you would score toward the low end of this scale.

Question #4: Are you tolerant? If you are tolerant of other people (e.g., cultural differences, personal traits or mannerisms, performance) you would score high on this scale. If you are intolerant, you would score toward the low end of this scale.

Question #5: Are you confident in your ability to perform well? If you are self-confident (without being egotistical) you would score high on this scale. If you lack confidence in your abilities, you would score toward the low end of this scale.

Question #6: Are you a team player? If you like working together with others and are willing to routinely subordinate your own interests to those of the group, you would score high on this scale. If you dislike group activities and usually work independently, you would score toward the low end of this scale.

Question #7: Do you have a sense of humor? If you like jokes, find humor in everyday events, and can laugh at your own mistakes, you would score high on this scale. If you rarely laugh at jokes and find little of humor in life, you would score toward the low end of this scale.

Question #8: How easily are you entertained? If you are easily entertained (a book, simple game, or a movie for the sixth time), you would score high on this scale. If you are easily bored or require much to be entertained (hobbies, variety of activities, novelty), you would score toward the low end of this scale.

Recommendations

If your score was...

53 - 56 Were you responding candidly? If so, you are a great candidate for a three-year expedition to Mars (and possibly for saint-hood).

46 - 52 You are an excellent candidate for an expedition to Mars. Now, answer this question to determine if you still want to go: Could you endure a three-year trip around the country in a motor home with five other people, and never leave the vehicle? How about camping out for one- year with six others, but you cannot leave the campground? That would be similar to living and working at a lunar base.

40 - 45 You probably would do just fine because humans can endure almost anything, but it would be a very unpleasant experience for you (and possibly for your crew mates). You should restrict yourself to 90-day space station tours of duty (and hope your return is not delayed).

32 - 39 As a normal, well-adjusted human being, maybe you should be a shuttle pilot. Better yet, stay on Earth--there is much that needs to be done.

27 - 31 Well, at least you responded honestly, which is very much to your credit, but probably not enough to help you endure the stresses of long duration isolation and confinement. Consider running a major corporation or government agency instead.

 This non-scientific exercise is intended to stimulate discussion about the personal qualities that future explorers will need. Although these particular questions and associated scores have not been validated, the eight dimensions addressed by the questions emerged from my research as the keys to successful personnel selection for long duration isolation and confinement.