The passengers (but not the 12 crew) are sent to Mars in 8.5 months are put in suspended animation for most of the journey out and back. * This allows each passenger and crew to be housed in a lead lined cylinder that protects them from radiation with a minimum of mass.


Suspended animation chambers are housed in a lead lined 'storm shelter' that reduce radiation levels to 1/8th ambient levels and mass only 92 kg per person. *7 x 8 x 6 suspended animation chambers are housed in the compact volume 3.6 m x 3.2 m x 15 m. *168 chambers house 162 passenger and crew with 6 spares.

has ANY PROGRESS been made on suspended animation??