NASA is gearing up for sending crewed missions to Mars starting the 2030s. Know whether life could be sustained on Mars at the same time as appreciating the harshest realities of radiation and other environmental harshness
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For decades, human beings have been fantasizing about colonizing Mars. As NASA is now preparing to send crews to the Red Planet in the 2030s, many people are wondering if they can stay there for extended periods. Robotic missions have already provided very good insights into the environment on Mars, but new research shows that staying there might not be as simple as most people thought.
NASA's Ambitious Plans
NASA plans to send humans to Mars with potential missions starting from as early as 2035. These missions will seek to unravel geological mysteries, such as whether life has ever existed on the planet. The journey to Mars is riddled with various health and safety concerns over astronauts.
Objectives of Mars Missions
- Scientific Exploration: Knowing about Mars' geology and atmosphere.
- Search for Life: Investigating past and present habitability.
- Technological Development: Testing new technologies for future missions.
The Radiation Challenge
Radiation exposure is one of the major challenges to establishing a human presence on Mars. A thorough study conducted by researchers from institutions like UCLA and MIT revealed alarming findings regarding radiation levels on the Martian surface.
Findings from Recent Research
- Radiation Levels: Astronauts could face radiation exposure exceeding safe limits after just four years on Mars.
- Solar Particle Events: A launch must be during solar quiet times; such a launch period would provide a screen to help astronauts avoid unwanted particles.
- Spacecraft Shielding: Spacecraft can be sufficiently shielded while in transit, but shielding with extra material increases the secondary radiation to which the astronaut is exposed.
Why long-term living is unlikely
While NASA is hopeful one day it will be ready to send humans to Mars, scientists argue that any long-term stay is just impossible. These conditions include high levels of radiation, hostile environmental pressures, and the psychological impact of staying in such isolation for many years.
Environmental Conditions Determining Habitability
- Scarce Atmosphere: When it comes to atmospheric pressure, Mars only has a measly 1% as compared to Earth, so human survival is quite an issue.
- Temperature Extremes: The temperature levels are extreme and can sink down to -195 F° (-125°C at poles, where human body survival is a severe health threat.
- Water Scarcity: It is indeed known that there is potential evidence of liquid water's presence beneath the surface yet unapproachable.
Conclusion: A Future of Short Missions
Exciting plans are being made for crewed missions to Mars, but a permanent human settlement on Mars is still a long way off. Researchers have suggested short-term missions of not more than four years to reduce health risks from radiation exposure.
Let us consider our ambition to the sky. We have to always be realistic with our imagination. The idea of surviving on Mars is something future generations will live for; for now, it must not be the primary direction we take as a goal to colonize but for us to explore and get to know the place instead.
About the Writer
Jenny, the tech wiz behind Jenny's Online Blog, loves diving deep into the latest technology trends, uncovering hidden gems in the gaming world, and analyzing the newest movies. When she's not glued to her screen, you might find her tinkering with gadgets or obsessing over the latest sci-fi release.What do you think of this blog? Write down at the COMMENT section below.
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