NASA has apparently funded a private company to study the effects of deep sleep on astronauts during deep space missions, specifically to Mars.

This special technique is commonly used for patients that have experienced critical trauma. Deep sleep, also known as suspended animation, is an option to save resources on long space missions.

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This process is also called torpor. It involves deep sleep states that will slowly reduce human metabolic functions. This process can allow smaller spacecraft with limited water and food supplies to save on energy and resources.

SpaceWorks Enterprise is being funded by NASA to further study the effects of human stasis that reduces the amount of pressurized volume required for a hibernating crew by five-fold. Stasis also has a significant conservation advantage when it comes to the total mass required for human consumables.

According to aerospace engineer Mark Schaffer, the use of therapeutic torpor has been theorized since the 1980s. It's been used by medical institutions for trauma patients beginning 2003.

It's been observed that torpor stasis in patients has been limited to only one week. This ideal hibernation period can be most advantageous during the transit of about 90 to 180 days in Martian space missions.

The proposed stasis program for astronauts will involve a system divided in two parts. The first stage will require astronauts inhale a coolant similar to that used in medical applications of torpor.

The next stagewill involve assigning a crew member to stay awake for a period of two to three days and then hibernating for two weeks.

Heightened interest coming from NASA and different private space agencies such as SpaceX has encouraged Mars missions. NASA's Curiosity rover has finally reached Mt. Sharp where it will study samples of Martian terrain while NASA's MAVEN probe is currently observing Mars' atmosphere.

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