Why Mars mission needs ‘class clown’ astronaut to succeed

ASTRONAUTS are traditionally serious, sensible types who can be trusted to fly equipment worth billions of dollars.

But any mission to Mars will need a ‘class clown’ figure to be successful, according to Nasa.

A sense of humour will be vital for any team to keep morale high on a two-year trip to Mars which could happen in the 2030s, the space agency added.

The joker role will be tested in Nasa’s group mission simulations at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas.

Jeffrey Johnson, professor of anthropology at the University of Florida, is advising Nasa on how teams can cope with extreme periods of isolation. He said: ‘Groups work best when they have somebody who takes on the role of class clown. These are people that have the ability to pull everyone together, bridge gaps when tensions appear and really boost morale.’