accidentally bringing a deadly disease or virus back
to Earth and ending the human race. To prevent the
possible spread of a deadly disease or virus to the rest
of the human race, the crew will be subject to a multiweek quarantine upon return to Earth. A similar
quarantine was conducted by NASA 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:
According to the Canadian Space Agency,
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 journey
to Mars, the crew would have to follow a rigorous cardio and strength-building
exercise program. The Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests that
muscle atrophy can be prevented via: electrical muscle simulation and artificial
gravity, by way of a rotating section of the spacecraft.
Loss of bone density:
The Canadian Medical Association Journal finds that 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. The Canadian Medical Association Journal
outlines the effects of immune dysregulation. 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