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**deackatera** · 05-13-2006, 03:43 AM

The biggest problem with a manned trip to mars is not the spacecraft technology - its our inability to keep the squishy human passengers safe from radiation exposure for the journey - plus the effects of bone density reduction and tissue wastage.

Then pass me the one-way ticket, I'll go!

**VyacheslaV** · 05-13-2006, 04:26 AM

The biggest problem with a manned trip to mars is not the spacecraft technology - its our inability to keep the squishy human passengers safe from radiation exposure for the journey - plus the effects of bone density reduction and tissue wastage.

The radiation issue can be solved by storing water in the outer layers of the craft (protecting the occupants quite nicely) and having the bulk of the rest of the craft between the living cell and the main source of lethal radiation in local space, the Sun. However, a larger issue is the transporting sufficient water/food/gases for several years for 5/6 people - one possible, but very costly, solution would be to send unmanned shipments ahead of time so that the main craft can dock with them during the journey to/from Mars and whilst in orbit.

**dietpillxanaxaxx** · 05-13-2006, 05:56 AM

The radiation issue can be solved by storing water in the outer layers of the craft (protecting the occupants quite nicely) and having the bulk of the rest of the craft between the living cell and the main source of lethal radiation in local space, the Sun. However, a larger issue is the transporting sufficient water/food/gases for several years for 5/6 people - one possible, but very costly, solution would be to send unmanned shipments ahead of time so that the main craft can dock with them during the journey to/from Mars and whilst in orbit.

Unfortunately the bone density / muscle wastage issues are still not solved to the degree that humans would be able to survive for the current time required for a round trip to Mars.

A lot of interesting work is going on at the moment regarding human life support systems, - although financially, robotic missions are currently more cost effective, so that is where the budget money is being spent - especially in the case of ESA.

**VyacheslaV** · 05-13-2006, 06:09 AM

Unfortunately the bone density / muscle wastage issues are still not solved to the degree that humans would be able to survive for the current time required for a round trip to Mars.

It's not the issue people used to think it was. Cosmonauts have stayed on Mir for length of time it would take to reach Mars, by any sensible means, and further experimentation on the ISS will help to increase that level. However, this obviously relies on the journey times being reasonably short (

05-13-2006, 03:43 AM	#21
deackatera Join Date Dec 2005 Posts 511 Senior Member	The biggest problem with a manned trip to mars is not the spacecraft technology - its our inability to keep the squishy human passengers safe from radiation exposure for the journey - plus the effects of bone density reduction and tissue wastage. Then pass me the one-way ticket, I'll go! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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05-13-2006, 04:26 AM	#22
VyacheslaV Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 438 Senior Member	The biggest problem with a manned trip to mars is not the spacecraft technology - its our inability to keep the squishy human passengers safe from radiation exposure for the journey - plus the effects of bone density reduction and tissue wastage. The radiation issue can be solved by storing water in the outer layers of the craft (protecting the occupants quite nicely) and having the bulk of the rest of the craft between the living cell and the main source of lethal radiation in local space, the Sun. However, a larger issue is the transporting sufficient water/food/gases for several years for 5/6 people - one possible, but very costly, solution would be to send unmanned shipments ahead of time so that the main craft can dock with them during the journey to/from Mars and whilst in orbit. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

05-13-2006, 05:56 AM	#23
dietpillxanaxaxx Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 374 Senior Member	The radiation issue can be solved by storing water in the outer layers of the craft (protecting the occupants quite nicely) and having the bulk of the rest of the craft between the living cell and the main source of lethal radiation in local space, the Sun. However, a larger issue is the transporting sufficient water/food/gases for several years for 5/6 people - one possible, but very costly, solution would be to send unmanned shipments ahead of time so that the main craft can dock with them during the journey to/from Mars and whilst in orbit. Unfortunately the bone density / muscle wastage issues are still not solved to the degree that humans would be able to survive for the current time required for a round trip to Mars. A lot of interesting work is going on at the moment regarding human life support systems, - although financially, robotic missions are currently more cost effective, so that is where the budget money is being spent - especially in the case of ESA. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

05-13-2006, 06:09 AM	#24
VyacheslaV Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 438 Senior Member	Unfortunately the bone density / muscle wastage issues are still not solved to the degree that humans would be able to survive for the current time required for a round trip to Mars. It's not the issue people used to think it was. Cosmonauts have stayed on Mir for length of time it would take to reach Mars, by any sensible means, and further experimentation on the ISS will help to increase that level. However, this obviously relies on the journey times being reasonably short ( Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

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