Man could survive on Mars

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | 12/10/03 | Sydney Morning Herald

[ambrose]

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December 10, 2003

Man could survive a mission to Mars according to NASA scientists, who say experiments on board the Mars Odyssey craft prove that humans could endure the planet's harsh conditions.

The results show that radiation around Mars might cause some health problems, but scientists told the BBC that humans could survive the conditions.

The research from NASA's Odyssey module, orbiting Mars for two years and sending back information to scientists on Earth, was presented at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.

On Earth, humans are protected from the worst cosmic radiation with the planet's magnetic field acting like a shield, diverting radiation away.

For astronauts on the Martian surface - or travelling between Earth and Mars - there is no such protection.

NASA scientists have been measuring radiation around Mars with an instrument on board the Mars Odyssey orbiting probe.

Astronauts on Mars would be exposed to roughly double the radiation dose that they experience on the International Space Station, said Cary Zeitlin from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute.

"The dose that astronauts would receive on a Mars mission is large enough to be beyond what they've experienced in Earth orbit," Dr Zeitlin told the BBC.

"Therefore it opens some questions about the biological effects of this radiation that we haven't really fully addressed yet."

This radiation could perhaps lead to more cancers, more cataracts and nervous system damage.

But overall it was manageable and humans could go on Mars missions relatively safely, Dr Zeitlin said.

They would need to use the planet itself to shield them, building their shelters in hollows, and perhaps taking materials that would reduce radiation further.

Ironically, the instrument used to measure the radiation, named Marie, has itself been damaged, apparently beyond repair, by excessive radiation from the Sun.

It stopped functioning following a massive solar flare in October.

But NASA said it sent back enough data before its demise to reassure them about the feasibility of human missions to Mars.

AAP

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/09/1070732210342.html

[ambrose]

[RightWhale]

There's that flag again. We come in peace for all mankind. That's what Americans do.

[billorites]

Average Earth atmospheric pressure = 1012 millibars.

Average Martian atmospheric pressure = 7 millibars.

Bring a helmet.

[scarface367]

bah, it's only a minor difference

[get'emall]

Send Gwyneth and her kid to Mars!

[ambrose]

Propoganda. The air on Mars is as breathable as the air in Los Angeles.

[supercat]

Out of curiosity, what would be the lowest pressure to which humans could acclimate given a suitably-rich O2 level?

[RightWhale]

In pure oxygen maybe 10% earth's surface pressure. 20% would be better.

[VadeRetro]

Bring a helmet.

And something to breathe!

[ambrose]

Things are much more hospitable underground, where the Martians currently reside.

[LibKill]

Some hard science (FACTS), with a little explanation for us who are not scientists, would be greatly appreciated.

[VadeRetro]

Robinson Crusoe on Mars, right? Starring Adam West (future Batman)!

[SandRat]

Los Angeles has air?

[billorites]

Well, people live in Llahsa, Tibet which is up around 18,000 feet. That's about the 500mb level. Half of the atmosphere is below them.

The problem is that it is necessary that the partial pressure of oxygen, which is only 21% of ambient pressure, be sufficient to force oxygen into the blood stream.

I think that the mid to upper teens is the practical upper limit for habitation. People have climbed to higher altitudes, but it isn't good for you. Not a good place to reproduce your kind.

Living on Mars, even in a pure oxygen environment, would be like living at about 300,000 feet on Earth.

Your blood would boil and you would die.

[ambrose]

I'll happily volunteer to be one of the first colonists to Mars.

[ambrose]

Did you see what happened to Ahnold when he got a taste of the Martian atmosphere in Total Recall?

[microgood]

Bring a helmet.

Yes, I know what happened to Arnold when he slid down that hole until the atmosphere kicked in.

[humblegunner]

Everything needed is available at Academy or a SCUBA shop.

Then there is that pesky commuting problem.

[dirtbiker]

Robinson Crusoe on Mars

I love that movie!

[ambrose]

The bigger challenge will be going to Titan.

But first let us tackle Mars.