The Mars Club - And You Thought the Mile-High Club Was the Club to Join

Mars Club explores the social side of a long space flight to Mars and tells the story of two different approaches and two very different outcomes. Most ignore the human side of sending men and women to Mars for a multi-year voyage. This book explores these personal issues and their sexual implications. Early explorers were typically all males, whether on an expedition on land or by sea. Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue with an all-male crew. Even NASA used three-man teams when first exploring the Moon. Society no longer has the gender roles of old, and an all-male crew would not be acceptable today.

Today, men and women are expected to be equal partners in all aspects of life and share in the risks and rewards of exploration. A journey to Mars would be several years long. How is this to occur? Married astronauts, or anyone in a close personal relationship, would be separated from loved ones for years. No hugs, no kisses, and no... sex... at least, from the ones on Earth. Would crew members of the opposite gender be allowed to socialize, or, for that matter, could it be stopped? They will have to endure hours of boredom on the journey. The only humans they will have direct contact with will be their other crew members.

In this book, NASA's first mission to land humans on Mars is a disaster. It failed not because of mechanical failure with the spacecraft but because of interpersonal issues resulting from sending a mixed-gender crew on a long space flight that NASA refused to face. A second attempt is tried, which would shock the world. The second attempt is successful, but not without issues and unintended consequences. Their sexual discoveries are more significant than the discoveries on Mars.

If you think joining the Mile-High Club would be a wild ride, wait until you read about joining... the Mars Club.