to the rest of the human race, the crew will be subject
to a multi-week quarantine upon return to Earth. A
similar quarantine was conducted on the crews of the
Apollo missions. While on Mars, the crew will follow a
strict safety protocol to prevent the crew from
contracting any diseases or viruses.
Muscle atrophy:
Due to the effects of micro-gravity astronauts
experience a 20% loss of muscle mass over 5 to 11
days. During the mission to Mars, astronauts will spend
an extended period of time in micro gravity and lose
even more muscle mass. To combat loss of muscle
mass, astronauts on the International Space Station
spend 2.5 hours a day exercising. During the 7 month journey to Mars, the crew
would have to follow a rigorous cardio and strength-building exercise program.
Other methods of preventing muscle atrophy to consider include: electrical
muscle simulation and artificial gravity, by way of a rotating section of the
spacecraft.
Loss of bone density:
During just the first days of space travel astronauts will experience a 60% to
70% increase in the level of calcium leaving the body via urine and feces. The
overall rate of bone density loss is 1% to 2% per month. If no countermeasures
were put in place, the crew of the Mars mission would develop osteoporosis. To
prevent this, astronauts will have to eat a diet high in vitamin D, vitamin K and
calcium. Also, the crew will need to add resistance exercises to their exercise
program.
Immune dysregulation:
A strange phenomenon known as immune dysregulation effects
astronauts living in micro-gravity. In just a few studies scientists have discovered
that space flight is linked to reactivation of dormant herpes viruses and the loss
of cell-mediated immunity. Other effects of weightlessness during space flight
come at the cellular level including: the decreased activity of white blood cells,
altered virus immunity and more. Long term effects of immune dysregulation
include the development of: allergies, hypersensitivities, autoimmunity, and
infectious diseases. To prevent these effects astronauts should be in perfect
health pre-launch and quarantined leading up to launch to prevent the
contraction of mission-threatening infections, viruses or diseases. More research