Rapid progress in space exploration, combined with the doom and gloom that filled the daily news, forcing more people to abandon the romantic view of the stars. The idea of exploring and colonizing Mars has long moved from a futuristic dream to a tangible and an almost inevitable goal. Currently, more and more organizations are conducting experiments and making plans for sending people to the Red planet.
NASA plans mission “Orion”, which will take from two to six people to the Mars exploration. In addition, the European space Agency, many private enterprises, Russia, India, China and Japan also plan to send people to the fourth planet from the Sun.
Many organizations and scientists warn that we are too quick to use the resources of the Earth to support life here. Unfortunately, some people have taken these insights as something that we need to leave Earth and migrate to other planets as soon as possible.
Scientists warn that we need not consider Mars as the “next Earth”, which will be able to meet all the needs of humanity, if we destroy their planet. Neil degrasse Tyson says that technology can terraform, rebuild and change Mars to make it more similar to Earth. But adds: “If we have the power to turn another planet into the Earth we can and return to Earth the face of the Earth”.
With all the uncertainty associated with the future, we should focus to do both. However, if your curiosity outweighs your fears, you should know what you are going to deal with, when you decide to journey to Mars.
Loneliness
Severe loneliness, in fact, this is not a slight inconvenience – it can cause serious health problems. Even if Mars will finally become popular among travelers, there is little chance that he plays all those closely associated companies and communities that were created on Earth for centuries.
To overcome the dismal consequences of the lack of a large number of interlocutors, travelers to Mars might prefer conversations with robots and challenging classes for one.
The loss of muscle mass
If you’ve seen footage of the astronauts on Board the International space station, you could not notice that they spend a lot of time practicing on the track and other equipment. They do this because the change in gravity has a huge influence on the muscular structure of the body.
On Earth we hardly notice the work that make our “antigravity” muscles, namely the quadriceps, the muscles of the neck and back. But without the daily pressure of gravity on those parts of the body they will quickly lose their normal function.
Currently being developed countermeasures that will help to support the bodies of astronauts in working and healthy condition – especially the muscular system – for short flights. But no one has ever spent dozens of years on another planet. Therefore, to explore the effects of such presence is simply impossible, not having lived on another planet for the last decade.
Health muscle also directly affects a skeletal system, reproductive health and organs.
Lack of oxygen
There are several ways to create oxygen from other materials during space travel and exploration of the planets. But the oxygen level on Mars is not soon will be fully consistent with the earth.
The body needs oxygen for almost all life functions – from breathing and digestion to the division and growth of cells. In the future the electrolysis of solid oxides will allow you to extract oxygen from the carbon dioxide that makes up 95% of Mars ‘ atmosphere.
Temperature changes
The atmosphere of Mars is so thin that the planet almost does not retain heat. The average temperature on the planet is -62 degrees Celsius. That is very very cold.
If you thought to forget thick gloves, going to another planet, it was understandable, though frustrating, do not forget that there will be no Department stores where you could buy warm blankets.
The incredibly long journey
Imagine an infinitely long road trip. Although the probes can get to Mars fairly quickly, sending people there will take much more time. Even a relatively short journey requiring a large amount of energy is 400 or 500 days. Will have to thoroughly stock up!
Radiation
First, you will fry the radiation on the way to Mars. Then fry the radiation is already on Mars, if you don’t follow the regulations and hiding from it at every opportunity. And if you decide to go back, you know what? You also fry the radiation.
As galactic cosmic rays and energetic particles from the sun can cause irreversible damage to the human body. The stay on the red planet leads to exposures radiation, 100 times greater than earth normal, and the trip even more risky.
High-energy particles and the smallest particles of radiation can pass through the body and other materials. Along with this causing damage to DNA and cells.
In human brain this leads to deterioration and convulsions. Eyes – cataract, lung cancer, skin collapses and even burns. The heart and the digestive organs are weakened, and the person may remain forever sterile.
And still not much to worry about. The materials used for protection against the harmful effects of radiation, become stronger and more flexible.
Claustrophobia
Before you choose the crew, NASA and other space organizations check people on extreme claustrophobia. According to astronaut Chris Hadfield, he tests it seemed fun, including where he had a small black bag and never said when it will release.
Hadfield said that “stuck in the dark, cramped place for an indefinite time is a great opportunity and nice time to think, sleep and relax.” For most of us it would be a much more unpleasant experience.
However, even the most steel and bold among the elected astronauts see the light at the end of the tunnel as they spend their days in incredibly tight places. After all, they know that I will return home to their waiting loved ones, fresh air and a wide sky.
Imagine that you have to spend the rest of his life on Mars, traveling between the small compartments and stations to avoid the radiation and to maintain proper oxygen levels. You will never be able to go out and travel outside of camp without a suit and helmet, causing claustrophobia.
Hostile life forms
There is a reason why astronauts decades carry guns into space “just in case”. In outer Arsenal orbital survival knives 1960-ies, machetes and even pistols with a machete and just pistols.
Although the main reason for the wearing of weapons in space is that astronauts may face problems upon return to Earth, if you land on unsafe terrain or hostile territory, on the second reason, say much less. Although it is still not found conclusive evidence of intelligent life, the existence of extraterrestrial organisms is almost guaranteed on the basis of fossil evidence. In addition, the probability that there are other forms of life are so high that there is almost no doubt.
In 2016, scientists have determined that the probability that we are the only advanced species in the galaxy, less than 1 to 60 billion. If you look at the unique properties of species and individual creatures on our planet, the chances that we will be faced with a hostile or a friendly Martian life forms is also high.
Think about times when you had to live with Intrusive or unpleasant neighbor, and then multiply that by a million to estimate the effects of cohabitation on the planet with a life form that you do not like.
Eye problems and vision loss
NASA began to ask the astronauts about their vision after space travel in 1989. When an astronaut returning home, scientists tried to determine how damaged his visual skills. At first they did not believe. Many of the astronauts are faced with serious vision problems that emerged after the departure from Earth.
Since then, NASA decided to conduct systematic research. They began to carry out more detailed tests, including binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (method of examination of the back of the eye through the retina), cycloplegic refraction (process of elimination of various problem areas due to the relaxation of other using eye drops) and advanced studies (which give a clearer view of the eye due to pupil dilation eye drops).
Vision problems after space journeys sometimes lasted for many years or even forever. It turned out that the eye itself is, in fact, is changing, with brain and cerebrospinal fluid. A possible culprit is intracranial hypertension, or high blood pressure on the brain and spine.
Currently, Valery Polyakov holds the record for the longest stay in space – 437 days. Given the various complications and variations in distance, the trip to Mars is easily a few hundred days just to get there. The longer you stay in state with the low gravity, the higher the risk of developing medical problems.
Space madness
Before people flocked to the stars, scientists were concerned that travelers in space will eventually become “impulsive, suicidal, sexually obsessed thrill seekers”. They thought that a closed space and lack of modern comfort will drive space travelers insane. But in reality, the first professional astronauts were steel, calm and courageous, even in life-threatening situations.
Since many of the darkest fears in our day ultimately was debunked, the idea of space madness has become something of urban legend. However, the examples of people who are unable to handle the pressure of space we have. Some showed strange behavior after a short trip beyond the atmosphere.
The journey to Mars will take much more time than short of modern space travel, and the symptoms observed during these trips, probably will be strengthened on a long journey. In addition, the brain consists of a large amount of water. The impact of changing gravity on the brain is barely understood.
At the moment NASA studies of astronauts aboard the International space station for changes of brain plasticity. During their visits, the astronauts perform small tasks, for example, rotation of images with my mind. The rise and decline of their skills are tracked throughout time.
10 facts about how unpleasant it may be the journey to Mars
Ilya Hel