Acclimation on a Mars Mission
Effects on Human Physiology
Radiation during space travel and during life on Mars:
Radiation is the one greatest concern for human physiology, as there will
be no magnetic field to protect the crew from solar flares or energetic particle
events. During the mission, the crew will be exposed to lethal quantities of
cancer-causing radiation. Protection from radiation will be required for up to
nine months in a spacecraft and for an extended period of time on the surface
of Mars.
To protect the crew during space travel, the entire spacecraft could be
shielded with water, although water is heavy, making it unfeasible for space
travel. Shielding only the portion of the spacecraft where the crew live could be
a more feasible solution. Furthermore, traveling during a period of low activity
from the sun is a good idea
because the chance of a
solar event carrying large
amounts of radiation less
likely, although this
increases the amount of
radiation emitted from the
rest of the galaxy, which
could be potentially harmful as well. A more high-tech solution is creating
magnetic fields to surround the spacecraft, habitat and ground vehicles,
although this technology is still in development and does not yet exist. Finally,
spacecraft, habitats and ground vehicles will be built out of hydrogen-rich
polyethylene, as hydrogen is an effective shield against radiation.
Unknown diseases:
As no human has ever stepped foot
on Mars, the scientific community has no
idea if there are life threatening viruses or
diseases waiting on Mars, and the crew
could potentially be wiped-out. In a worst
case scenario, the crew may accidentally
bring a deadly disease or virus back to Earth
and end the human race. To prevent the
possible spread of a deadly disease or virus