Buzz
The rapid progress in space exploration, combined with the current waves of negativity in the news, is encouraging more people than ever to look up at the stars with a sense of romantic longing. What once seemed like a distant fantasy of exploring and settling on Mars has now shifted to a tangible, even imminent goal. Numerous organizations are conducting experiments and formulating plans to make human space travel to the Red Planet a reality.
At present, NASA is preparing its Orion mission, which aims to send a crew of two to six astronauts to explore Mars. Additionally, the European Space Agency, several private companies, as well as Russia, India, China, and Japan, are all working on their own plans to send humans to Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun.
Many experts and organizations are warning that we are depleting Earth's resources at an unsustainable rate. Unfortunately, some have interpreted these warnings as a call to abandon Earth and start focusing on migrating to other planets as quickly as possible.
Scientists caution that we shouldn't view Mars as a 'Next Earth' capable of fulfilling all of humanity's needs if we destroy this planet. Neil DeGrasse Tyson has stated that the technology exists to terraform, rebuild, and transform Mars into a habitable world. However, he also pointed out, 'If we have the power to turn another planet into Earth, then we can turn Earth back into Earth!'
Given the uncertainties of the future, perhaps the best approach is to do both. But if your curiosity outweighs your apprehensions, read on to discover exactly what you're signing up for! And if you choose to journey to Mars, we eagerly await the photos you send back.
10. Isolation
Loneliness on Mars is no minor inconvenience; it can lead to serious health issues. Even if the Red Planet eventually hosts a sizable population of settlers, it’s unlikely to replicate the close-knit communities and societies that have been nurtured over centuries on Earth.
To counteract the negative effects of having limited human interaction, Mars travelers may engage in conversations with robots and take part in intricate solitary activities.
9. Muscle Mass Reduction
If you’ve watched videos of astronauts aboard the International Space Station, you may have noticed their regular use of stationary bikes and other exercise equipment. This is necessary because the shift in gravity has a profound effect on the body’s muscle structure.
As Earth’s inhabitants, we hardly recognize the work of our ‘antigravity’ muscles, such as the quadriceps, calf muscles, neck, and back. But without the constant force of gravity acting on these areas, the loss of function would become apparent very quickly.
Currently, countermeasures to maintain bodily function—particularly muscular health—have been studied for short-term missions. However, no one has yet spent decades or entire lifetimes on a distant planet, making it impossible to truly study the long-term effects of living in such environments.
The health of your muscles is also crucial for your skeletal system, reproductive health, and overall organ function.
8. Oxygen Shortages
There are several methods to generate oxygen from other substances during space travel and colonization. However, on a planet like Mars, the oxygen levels won’t be comparable to those on Earth for quite a while.
Oxygen is essential for nearly all of the body's functions—from breathing to digestion, to cell division and growth. In the future, solid oxide electrolysis may be used to extract oxygen from the carbon dioxide that constitutes 95% of Mars’ atmosphere.
7. Extreme Temperatures
The atmosphere on Mars is so thin that the planet struggles to hold onto heat. With an average temperature of -62 degrees Celsius (-81 °F), it’s incredibly cold. Just in case it wasn’t clear, that’s seriously freezing.
If you think forgetting your mittens for a ski trip was bad, imagine being stuck on a cold, barren planet with no stores to buy extra blankets or anything to warm you up!
6. Excruciatingly Long Journey
Talk about a road trip that seems to never end! While probes can reach Mars in a relatively short time, sending humans there will take much longer. Even the shortest missions, which require immense amounts of energy, could take 400 to 500 days. So, better pack plenty of snacks for the journey!
5. Radiation Exposure
First, you'll be bombarded by radiation on your way to Mars. Then, throughout your stay on the planet, you'll need to constantly take precautions to avoid further exposure. And, if you choose to return, you'll face more radiation all the way back.
Both galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar energetic particles (SEP) have the potential to cause permanent damage to the human body. Just living on the Red Planet subjects astronauts to over 100 times the radiation they’d encounter on Earth, and the journey there and back carries even greater risks.
The high-energy, minuscule particles of radiation can penetrate the human body and other materials, potentially causing alterations in DNA and cellular structures.
In the human brain, this can result in degeneration and seizures. Eyes may develop cataracts, lungs could be vulnerable to cancer, and skin can be damaged or even burned. Hearts and digestive organs weaken, and yes, radiation exposure can even cause sterility.
But don’t worry too much, the materials used to shield against radiation are constantly improving and becoming more advanced!
4. Claustrophobia
Before selecting a crew, NASA and other space agencies conduct tests to screen for severe claustrophobia. As astronaut Chris Hadfield recalls, the tests were actually enjoyable, including one where participants are confined in a small black bag with no indication of when they will be released.
Hadfield shared that “being zipped inside a small, dark place for an indeterminate amount of time was just a great opportunity and nice time to think and maybe have a little nap and relax.” For most of us, however, that would be a far more uncomfortable experience.
Even the most resilient and courageous among the chosen astronauts have an end point in sight as they endure their days in incredibly confined spaces. They know eventually, they will return to Earth’s vast open skies and fresh air.
Imagine spending the rest of your life on Mars, moving between tiny compartments and stations to dodge radiation and maintain breathable oxygen levels. Exploring or venturing outside your habitat would require a claustrophobic spacesuit and helmet.
3. Space-Induced Insanity
Before humans ventured into the stars, scientists feared that astronauts would become “impulsive, suicidal, sexually aberrant thrill seekers.” They believed that being confined in small spaces and stripped of modern comforts would make spacefarers crack. In reality, the first professional astronauts were composed, level-headed, and even heroic in life-threatening circumstances.
Since many of the greatest fears of the era were later disproven, the concept of space madness turned into more of an urban legend. However, there were still some instances of individuals struggling to cope with the stresses of space travel. Some exhibited unusual behavior after their brief ventures outside Earth's atmosphere.
A journey to Mars would take far longer than any current space travel, meaning any symptoms observed in the past would likely be even more pronounced on such a lengthy voyage. Additionally, since the human brain is largely composed of water, the effects of altered gravity on brain structure are barely understood.
Right now, NASA is studying astronauts aboard the International Space Station for changes in brain plasticity, using various tests. Astronauts complete small tasks during their missions, such as mentally rotating images or navigating foam obstacle courses. Their performance fluctuations are carefully monitored over time.
2. Eye Deformities and Vision Impairment
NASA began asking astronauts about their vision after returning from space in 1989. Each time an astronaut returned, researchers would assess if their near and far sight had been affected in any way. What they discovered was initially alarming: many astronauts found it much harder to see clearly than they had before their space missions.
NASA concluded that a more systematic approach was needed for their investigations. They began conducting a range of detailed tests, such as binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy (to examine the back of the eye through the retina), cycloplegic refraction (which involves eye drops to relax certain parts of the eye for better diagnosis), and dilated fundus exams (offering a clearer view of the eye by enlarging pupils using drops).
The negative effects after space missions sometimes lasted for many years or, in some cases, became permanent. It was found that the eye itself was undergoing changes, alongside the brain and spinal fluid. A likely cause of these issues is intracranial hypertension, which is high pressure exerted on the brain and spine.
At present, Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest continuous stay in space, which lasted 437 days. Considering various complications and differences in distance, a journey to Mars could easily take several hundred days, and that’s just to get there. The longer someone spends in a low-gravity environment, the greater the risk of encountering medical challenges.
1. Dangerous Life-Forms
Astronauts have carried weapons into space for many years “just in case.” These tools have ranged from the orbital survival knives of the 1960s to machetes, and even to machete guns and pistols.
While the primary concern is that astronauts could face survival situations upon their return to Earth due to landing in dangerous terrain or hostile environments, there's another cause that's rarely mentioned. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence for sentient life, the presence of extraterrestrial microorganisms seems almost certain, based on fossilized remnants. Furthermore, the likelihood of other life forms existing is so high that it’s nearly irrefutable.
In fact, scientists concluded in 2016 that the odds of us being the only advanced species in any galaxy are less than 1 in 60 billion. If we consider the unique characteristics of species and individuals here on Earth, the chances of encountering Martian life forms—whether friendly or hostile—are nearly equal.
Imagine all the times you've had to deal with an awful roommate or neighbor, then multiply that by a million to estimate what it would be like sharing a planet with a life-form that isn't exactly thrilled about your presence.
