A Mars manned space mission would be characterized by long-lasting psy
che-social stress for ifs human participants. Based on the results of
our and other authors' experiments with small human groups under simul
ated space stress conditions, and bearing in mind historical evidence
of the changing role of women in human society, the differences of fem
inine and masculine cognitive patterns should be taken into greater ac
count. Participation of women in astronautics should be reconsidered f
rom the point of view of the roles of women as members of a space ship
crew, as members of a space control centre and in relation to the fam
ily life of male astronauts on long-term space missions.