The next prospect for human space travel is clear. We must go to Mars. You must have noticed that there has been a lot of talk about this lately, from innovators and NASA scientists to President Obama, who advocated the need for a flight to Mars. We spoke with Chris McKay, senior scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center, who is currently planning future missions to Mars, and he gave detailed explanations of some of the dangers involved.
“My name is Brian Resnick and I am a science reporter for Vox.com. I myself will never go to Mars, and there are seven reasons for this.
The first is that your rocket can explode on launch. It's pretty obvious. NASA has a good track record of sending astronauts into space, but we also know of several tragedies. As part of the space shuttle program, between 1981 and 2011, NASA sent 833 people into orbit, 14 of whom died in two large explosions. SpaceX has a mixed history of attempting to launch and land rockets.
Number two. If you did manage to leave Earth and all went well, there are a number of other dangers of traveling to Mars. The most serious of these is exposure to radiation. The cosmic vacuum isn't all that empty - it's filled with radiation emanating from the sun in all directions, gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet radiation, and other things that can damage cells in the human body. Earth has a dense atmosphere and a magnetic field that helps us avoid the harmful effects of radiation. According to data from NASA's Curiosity rover, there is more radiation on the surface of Mars than it could be on Earth. Even more worrisome about the risk of radiation in space is solar flares. Sometimes, haphazardly and unpredictably, the Sun throws out large blobs of radiation,and bright flashes occur on its surface.
Number three. You can crash when trying to land on the surface of Mars. One thing to know here: the atmosphere of Mars is much thinner, which means that depreciation in it is much less. It also has less friction, which will significantly slow down your spaceship. Basically, you need an entire rocket complex to make a smooth landing on Mars. In the case of the Curiosity rover, we could observe an incredible, delicately and competently staged maneuver aimed at landing only this one-color vehicle. Can you imagine the process of delivering 6-7 or 10 hundred people there? To help humans descend to the Martian surface will require a very sophisticated, high-tech, and proven system.
Number four. The low gravity of Mars can seriously damage your bones and muscles. Many astronauts who spend six months or more aboard the space station lose their visual acuity and cannot fully restore it after returning to Earth. There is one astronaut whose vision dropped from the ideal 20/20 to 20/100 in just six months. Another potential problem in microgravity is muscle and bone destruction, which can only be delayed by regular exercise. NASA still hasn't found a comprehensive solution to this problem. Consider a six month flight to Mars. Upon arrival, you will feel that the Martian gravity is not as strong as that of Earth - you will not be as light as on the Moon, but also not as heavy as on Earth. The answer to the question, will musclesbones and vision continue to deteriorate on Mars, is still unknown.
Number five. If you leak oxygen in your spacesuit, you will not be able to breathe Martian air. The pressure in the atmosphere of Mars is several times less than the pressure in the atmosphere of the Earth. Your home on Mars will be like an airplane cockpit. Any crack in the skin of the dwelling or a hole in the spacesuit will lead to depressurization, and this is a big problem. Mars has a lot of dust and dirt that gets everywhere and can quickly clog your air intakes, disable some of your instruments and kill whoever inhales them. The idea that one day we will probably be able to breathe Martian air has long fascinated the minds of science fiction writers and is called "terraforming." The point is that humans may be able to change the atmosphere of Mars and make it more similar to Earth. We could provoke "global warming" on Mars,raise the overall temperature of the planet and accumulate greenhouse gases there. We could also raise our carbon dioxide levels and start growing plants there to make oxygen. This is probably the most incredible idea - not to say impossible, but definitely not a matter of the near future.
Number six. The planet Mars can literally kill you. The soil is toxic there. You've probably seen the movie The Martian, in which astronaut Mark Watney grows potatoes in Martian soil. In reality, this is not worth doing. It contains very high concentrations of a chemical called perchlorate. These salts can cause serious damage to the human body, especially the thyroid gland. It's okay if Martian mud falls into your hands, but its presence in drinking water, food or your home is highly undesirable.
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Number seven. Your travel companions can drive you crazy. This was an unexpected problem that had to be faced and had to be addressed by NASA. What criteria can be used to assemble the crew of a spaceship, whose members will be in each other's company for months, become the only representatives of the human race on the entire planet for months or even years, and spend all their time together? The likelihood of rebellion or interpersonal conflict would be the most risky element of all. In 1994, the "Biosphere-2" project was carried out, during which a team of seven people was divided into two warring groups, as a result of which the mission had to be terminated prematurely. Thus, a set of verification activities will be required to determine which type of people is suitable for these missions.
The first humans to go to Mars must realize that they may never return home again. But this has never stopped researchers. People will always have a desire to explore unknown places. For the most part, it is this thirst that has at times helped our species survive.
Will the risks of going to Mars be high? Certainly. Should we go there? Certainly."