
In 1972, the space race officially ended when NASA sent a final crew of astronauts to the lunar surface (Apollo 17). This was the brass ring that both the US and Soviets were reaching for, the "moon shot" that would determine who had supremacy in space. In the current age of renewed space exploration, the next big leap will clearly be sending astronauts to Mars.
This will present many challenges that need to be addressed beforehand, many of which have to do with simply getting the astronauts there in one piece! These challenges were the subject of a presentation by two Indian researchers at SciTech Forum 2020, an annual event hosted by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), RUDN University and the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
The study describing their research has recently appeared online and has been accepted for publication by Advances in Aeronautical Sciences (release date to be announced). Both the presentation and the presentation given at SciTech Forum 2020 were given by Malaya Kumar Biswal and Ramesh Naidu Annavarapua - a Postgraduate Researcher and Associate Professor of Physics at Pondicherry University, India (respectively).
Their research was also the subject of a presentation given during the seventh session of the Virtual Space Biology Workshop hosted by the Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI) and held January 20-21. As Biswal and Annavarapua have indicated in their studies and presentations, Mars holds a special place in the hearts and minds of scientists and astrobiological researchers.
Next to Earth, Mars is the most habitable place in the solar system (by terrestrial standards). Multiple lines of evidence accumulated over the decades have also shown that it may have supported life at one time. Unfortunately, sending astronauts to Mars inevitably comes with a variety of logistical and technological challengeshuman factorsand the associated distances.
Resolving these issues early is paramount if NASA and other space agencies hope to conduct the first manned missions to Mars in the next decade and beyond. Based on their analysis, Biswal and Annavarapu identified 14 distinct challenges including (but not limited to):
- The trajectory for Mars and corrective maneuvers
- Spacecraft and Fuel Management
- Radiation, microgravity and astronaut health
- Isolation and mental health issues
- Communication (in transit and on Mars)
- The approach to Mars and insertion into orbit
All of these challenges overlap to some degree with one or more of the other challenges listed. For example, an obvious problem in planning missions to Mars is sheer distance. Because of this, launch windows between Earth and Mars only occur every two years, when our planets are closest in their orbits (ie, when Mars is "opposite" relative to the Sun).
During these time windows, a spacecraft can make the journey from Earth to Mars in 150 to 300 days (about five to 10 months). This makes resupply missions impractical, as astronauts cannot wait that long to receive much-needed shipments of fuel, food, and other supplies. As Biswal emailed Universe Today, the distances involved also create issues when it comes to astronaut safety and power generation:
"In the event of an emergency situation, we cannot bring astronauts back from Mars [like we could] in the case of LEO or lunar missions... Likewise, the distance reduces the solar flux from Earth orbit to Mars orbit, resulting in a power generation deficit, which is very important for the." Propelling the vehicle and maintaining thermal stability (Again, the long distance can result in a low ambient temperature leading to hypothermia and frosting (especially in the mouth)."
In other words, the journey to Mars alone presents several specific challenges that Biswal and Annavarapu included in their analysis. Again, when it comes to astronaut health and safety, there are some specific challenges that come into play. For example, the fact that astronauts spend several months in space poses all kinds of risks to their physical and mental healthMental health.
For starters, there's the psychological toll of being locked in a cabin on a spacecraft along with other astronauts. There is also the physical toll of long-term exposure to a microgravity environment. As research aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has shown - particularly NASA's twin study - being in space for up to a year places significant stress on the human body.
In addition to the loss of muscle and bone density, astronauts who spent extended periods aboard the ISS also experienced vision loss, genetic changes, and long-term problems with their cardiovascular and circulatory systems. There have also been instances of psychological effects, with astronauts experiencing high levels of anxiety, insomnia, and depression.
But as Biswal said, the biggest and most obvious challenge is the total radiation (solar and cosmic) that the astronauts will be exposed to over the course of the yearMission:
“[The] greatest dangers include the risk of prolonged cancer and its effects due to exposure to both interplanetary radiation (during transit of Mars) and surface radiation (during prolonged stay on the surface). Then the effect of radiation causes defective brain coordination function and other brain diseases; then the psychological impact of the occupation during total isolation. Since the manned mission depends on the astronaut's performance, the astronauts have more health problems."
In industrialized nations, people on Earth are exposed to an average of about 620 millirems (62 mSv) annually, or 1.7 millirems (0.17 mSv) per day. Meanwhile, NASA has conducted studies showing how a mission to Mars would result in total exposure of about 1,000 mSv over a two-and-a-half year period. This would consist of 600 mSv over a year round trip, plus 400 mSv over an 18 month stay (while the planets realign).
That means astronauts will be exposed to 1.64 mSv per day during transit and 0.73 mSv for each day they are on Mars - that's about the 9.5 and 4.3 times the daily average. The health risks involved could leave astronauts suffering from radiation-related health issues before they even arrive on Mars, let alone the surface operations or the return trip.
Fortunately, there are mitigation strategies for the transit and surface portions of the mission, some recommended by Biswal and Annavarapua. "We are currently developing an underground Mars habitat that could address any health-related issues of extended mission or permanent colonization of Mars," Biswal said. "[T]he manned mission should include faster production of crew requirements from the in situ resource [utilization] (ISRU)."

This proposal is consistent with the many mission profiles NASA and other space agencies are developing for future exploration of the Moon and Mars. There are already many existing strategies to protect crews from radiation in space, but in extraterrestrial environments all concepts involve the use of local resources (like regolith or ice) to create a natural shield.
Local availability of ice is also seen as a must to ensure a steady supply of water for human consumption and irrigation (since astronauts on long-term missions must grow much of their own food). All that aside, Biswal and Annavarapu emphasized how maintaining a fast flight and return trajectory will help reduce travel time.
There is also the possibility of utilizing advanced technologies such as Nuclear Thermal and Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NTP/NEP). NASA and other space agencies are actively researching nuclear missiles because a spacecraft equipped with NTP or NEP could make the journey to Mars in just 100 days. But as Bisawl and Annavarapu have indicated, this raises the challenge of dealing with nuclear systems and increased radiation exposure.
Unfortunately, all of these challenges can be addressed with the right combination of innovation and preparation. And when you consider what it takes to send manned missions to Mars, the challenges seem a lot less daunting. As Biswal offered, these include proximity, the ability to study soil samples from Mars in an Earth laboratory, expanding our horizons, and being able to answer fundamental questions about life:
"We've always been fascinated to know where we come from and if there is life like us in other astronomical bodies? [We] cannot conduct a manned mission to another interplanetary destination due to mission risk and management.
"Mars is the only neighboring planet in our solar system that we can explore, it [has] a good geological record to answer all our unresolved questions, and [we can bring] samples [back] to use in our terrestrial laboratory." analyze? "And finally, it would be interesting to conduct a manned mission to Mars to demonstrate the magnitude of current technology and advances in aerospace."

Space agencies have been sending robotic missions to Mars since the early 1960s. Since the 1970s, some of these missions have been surface-landing landers. With over forty years of data and expertise resulting from this, NASA and other space agencies are now trying to apply what they have learned to send the first onesastronautsto Mars.
The first attempts may still be over a decade (or more) away, but only if significant preparations are made beforehand. Not only do many mission-related components and infrastructures still have to be developed, but also a lot of research still needs to be done. Fortunately, these efforts benefit from the kind of thorough assessments we see here, examining (and suggesting countermeasures) all potential risks and hazards.
All of this will hopefully lead to the creation of a sustainable program for exploring Mars. It could even allow for the long-term human occupation of Mars and the creation of a permanent colony. Thanks to the efforts of many researchers and scientists, the day may finally come when there are such things as "Martians."
More information:Interplanetary challenges encountered by the crew during their interplanetary transit from Earth to Mars.arxiv.org/abs/2101.04723
Citation:Every challenge astronauts will face on a flight to Mars (February 5, 2021), retrieved March 6, 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2021-02-astronauts-flight-mars.html
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FAQs
Which challenge do astronauts face when they travel in space? ›
In space, the pull of gravity is very low. These systems can often remove too much fluid from our legs and put it into our chests and heads. Astronauts can then experience motion sickness, loss of balance, and loss of taste and smell.
What are some challenges that astronauts face? ›- Radiation. The first hazard of a human mission to Mars is also the most difficult to visualize because, well, space radiation is invisible to the human eye. ...
- Isolation and confinement. ...
- Distance from Earth. ...
- Gravity (or lack thereof) ...
- Hostile/closed environments.
Future Mars exploration missions will present scientists and astronauts alike with a host of problem that will challenge human survival. Accessing water, dealing with a frigid planet that lacks oxygen and coping with dangerous levels of radiation are among the biggest hurdles to overcome.
What problems or challenges will the astronauts have to consider? ›Important habitability factors include temperature, pressure, lighting, noise, and quantity of space. It's essential that astronauts are getting the requisite food, sleep and exercise needed to stay healthy and happy.
What are the challenges of going to Mars? ›- The flight trajectory for Mars and corrective maneuvers.
- Spacecraft and fuel management.
- Radiation, microgravity, and astronaut health.
- Isolation and psychological issues.
- Communications (in transit and on Mars)
- The Mars approach and orbital insertion.
Difficulties and hazards include radiation exposure during a trip to Mars and on its surface, toxic soil, low gravity, the isolation that accompanies Mars' distance from Earth, a lack of water, and cold temperatures.
What is the biggest challenge for space travel? ›Star Wars would have you believe that the greatest challenges to space travel is asteroids, lack of resources like water or fuel, or even the threat of unfriendly, intelligent alien life. But in reality, scientists are finding that the biggest obstacle to today's space travel is dust. Yes, space dust.
What are at least 3 challenges to living in space? ›The major health hazards of spaceflight include higher levels of damaging radiation, altered gravity fields, long periods of isolation and confinement, a closed and potentially hostile living environment, and the stress associated with being a long distance from mother Earth.
What is the astronaut challenge? ›The focus of the competition is the mobile Space Flight Simulator which was designed to replicate the retired NASA Space Shuttle. For the last six years, up to 200 Middle and High school students each year have converged at the Kennedy Space Center in February to compete in the Astronaut Challenge.
Why is it challenging to get to Mars? ›Three things make Mars landings difficult—the planet's gravity, Mars' atmosphere and our distance from the red planet. FIRST PHOTOS FROM THE CHINESE MARS ROVER ZHURONG IS OUT! Mars is less massive than Earth, but its atmosphere is also perilously thin.
Why is it difficult to send people to Mars? ›
So why haven't humans yet traveled to Mars? According to NASA, there are a number of obstacles that we still need to overcome before sending a human mission to the planet, including technological innovation and a better understanding of the human body, mind and how we might adapt to life on another planet.
What will be 5 challenges that we will need to overcome to get to Mars? ›- Vibration and shock. The first challenge is to survive the rocket launch. ...
- Vacuum and radiation. The trip to Mars takes about six months. ...
- Weight reduction. ...
- Atmosphere of Mars. ...
- Quality tests.
When astronauts come back to earth, their otolith organs need to readjust to the force of gravity, which can take a few days. In the meantime, they may experience balance issues and problems with coordination.
What is the biggest problem in Mars? ›The main problem is the weak atmosphere on Mars: it has 0.6% of the Earth's pressure at sea level, which is equivalent to the Earth's pressure at an altitude of 35 kilometres (22 miles). This means that water cannot be found in a liquid state on Mars.
What is one of the biggest threats to a manned Mars? ›With current technology, the journey takes more than eight months each way. Which means that astronauts will get bored. In fact, a number of scientists say that — of all things — boredom is one of the biggest threats to a manned Mars mission, despite the thrill inherent in visiting another planet.
What would people need to live on Mars? ›Homes on Mars would need to withstand radiation levels, temperature fluctuations, lack of oxygen, and other conditions on Mars. And new environments call for alternative structures. A few possibilities are that humans could live in ice igloos or below the ground surface.
How many space missions went wrong? ›During spaceflight. As of March 2021, in-flight accidents have killed 15 astronauts and 4 cosmonauts, in five separate incidents. Three of them had flown above the Kármán line (edge of space), and one was intended to do so.
What are the disadvantages of living on Mars? ›Mars has almost no surface water; a toxic atmosphere that is too thin for humans to survive without pressure suits; deadly solar radiation; temperatures lower than Antarctica; and few to none of the natural resources that have been critical to human success on Earth.
What are 5 things astronauts need to survive in space? ›Astronauts must take everything with them to survive; their light, their heat, their power, their food and water and their atmosphere.
What is the hardest thing about being an astronaut? ›- Weightlessness. ...
- Sleeping. ...
- Keeping track of time. ...
- Dealing with body fluids. ...
- The view.
Why is eating a challenge in space? ›
Astronauts lose weight due to the loss of muscles and bones. Astronauts also may lose weight because of space motion sickness and what it causes from loss of appetite. Without gravity, food aromas waft away before making it to the nose. When you cannot smell very well you can't taste very well.
What do astronauts do 16 times a day? ›The International Space Station orbits 354 kilometers (220 miles) above the Earth, completing one trip around the globe every 92 minutes. Cruising along at 27,700 km (17,200 miles) per hour, the astronauts experience 15 or 16 sunrises and sets every day.
What are 3 reasons for going to Mars? ›The scientific reasons for going to Mars can be summarised by the search for life, understanding the surface and the planet's evolution, and preparing for future human exploration. Understanding whether life existed elsewhere in the Universe beyond Earth is a fundamental question of humankind.
Can a human go to Mars and come back? ›All in all, your trip to Mars would take about 21 months: 9 months to get there, 3 months there, and 9 months to get back. With our current rocket technology, there is no way around this.
What would be the best way to get to Mars? ›If you want to send a spacecraft all the way to Mars, first you'll need a fast rocket to escape the pull of Earth's gravity. The heavier your spacecraft, the more powerful your rocket needs to be to lift off. Next, make sure you launch at the right time. Mars and Earth orbit the sun at different speeds and distances.
What would happen to a human on Mars? ›If you tried to breathe on the surface of Mars without a spacesuit supplying your oxygen – bad idea – you would die in an instant. You would suffocate, and because of the low atmospheric pressure, your blood would boil, both at about the same time.
What happens if you stay in space for 5 years? ›Astronauts who have stayed in space for long periods have problems with their circulation and eyesight. That's in addition to losses in bone and muscle tissue. Kelly has collected fluid samples and undergone rigorous medical testing to document these changes over the course of his trip.
What are some things that could go wrong during space travel? ›- Cosmic radiation. En route to another world, astronauts will be bombarded with cosmic radiation: tiny, high-energy atom fragments that whiz through space and can damage cells and DNA. ...
- Going stir crazy. ...
- Space fungus. ...
- Microgravity.
Astronauts receive 10x the amount of radiation exposure as we do on Earth. Such high exposure can damage the immune system, causing astronauts to be susceptible to infection while in space. Long-term exposure can damage cells and DNA, leading to cataracts and cancers.
What is the most difficult part of being an astronaut? ›Weightlessness
Unfortunately his first few hours in space were full of nausea. Astronauts train extensively for zero-g, but training for a few hours is very different than living in it 24/7. Garan described the initial moments of weightlessness as pleasant, but it didn't take long for the nausea to kick in.
What are the effects of space travel on astronauts? ›
Astronauts are pelted with increased radiation exposure, which could have long-term effects, like cancer. Floating in space changes the human body, leading to bone and muscle loss. It also alters the physical shape of the eyes of astronauts, causing blurry vision.
How much do astronauts get paid? ›Average salaries for astronauts are around $100,000 per year or more, not to mention extra compensation for their housing and healthcare. Astronauts who work for private companies like SpaceX earn even more. In general, it's safe to say that astronauts are well-compensated for their skills and experience.
What happens to blood in space? ›Abstract. Space flight results in a rapid change in total blood volume, plasma volume, and red blood cell mass because the space to contain blood is decreased. The plasma volume and total blood volume decreases during the first hours in space and remain at a decreased level for the remainder of the flight.
What are the cons of sending people to Mars? ›People could starve, freeze, run out of oxygen or be hit with lethal doses of radiation, not to mention the global dust storms that occur on Mars for weeks on end. And then there are the possible mechanical failures of rockets during flight, crash landings, holes in oxygen tanks, the list goes on!
What are 5 facts about astronauts? ›- Astronauts wear diapers. ...
- Astronaut literally means "Star Sailor" in Latin. ...
- Astronauts have to train to use the toilet. ...
- You have to learn Russian to be on the International Space Station. ...
- An astronaut lost his wedding ring on the moon once and found it during a space walk.
Living in space can be risky! Aside from the threats from space debris and malfunctioning technology, space radiation can present dangers to space explorers, lack of gravity can result in physiological issues, and psychological issues can be caused by isolation and confinement.