Given the small number of crew needed for an initial programme of missions, it ought to be possible to select from the population of the Earth a number of super

Given the small number of crew needed for an initial programme of missions, it ought to be possible to select from the population of the Earth a number of superbly able and healthy people who simply accept the risk. I sometimes suspect that the proposers of sending older people to Mars are getting on a bit themselves and wish for a spot they otherwise would be denied. (Nothing personal Mr Bright, I'm sure you'd be an admirable astronaut and I'd happily launch with you if we were given the chance). You don't need to select crew from a subset for whom the calculus of risk of death versus ongoing life on Earth is different in some way. You just need crew who are willing to take the risks, whatever their reasons.