Buzz
The prospect of a crewed mission to Mars has everyone buzzing with excitement. Speculation suggests that humanity might set foot on Mars as early as the 2030s. However, this ambitious goal could remain an elusive dream, considering the current state of technology and shifting political landscapes, particularly in the United States.
Numerous issues are beyond our control, including those related to our own biology and the harsh conditions on Mars. It seems as though Mars itself is bent on eliminating the first humans to venture there—an idea echoed by several individuals, including Elon Musk, who could revolutionize space travel. But let’s remain hopeful and optimistic.
10. Financial Resources
NASA lacks the financial resources for a crewed mission to Mars. This was disclosed in July 2017 when William Gerstenmaier, NASA’s human spaceflight chief, admitted that the agency does not receive sufficient funding from the US government to make the Mars landing planned for the 2030s feasible.
Estimates for the cost of a manned Mars mission vary significantly between NASA, private space agencies, and nonprofit organizations. These estimates range from $1 trillion over 25 years (as suggested by the Mars Institute) to $100 billion over 30–40 years (according to NASA). However, NASA is not in a position to afford even their own estimate.
NASA’s budget for the 2017 fiscal year was $19.5 billion. While this amount might seem large, it must be shared among numerous space missions, programs, and research projects. With current trends, NASA’s funding shortage is unlikely to improve soon, as its budget has only risen by a modest 2 percent annually in recent years.
9. Solitude
Humans are inherently social beings, and interaction is often essential. Researchers are concerned that this could pose a significant challenge during a mission to Mars. A few years ago, a group of participants was placed in an isolated habitat in the Arizona desert for an extended period to simulate conditions similar to those on Mars.
The study found that some participants experienced depression and severe mood swings. Others became hostile and largely refrained from speaking to one another for 18 months, with their conversations limited to brief discussions about managing the facility. Despite the addition of psychologists to assist them, astronauts on Mars will not have the same access to mental health support.
The results of this experiment have led some researchers to question the feasibility of sending just two astronauts aboard a single spacecraft to Mars. The astronauts may grow bored, depressed, and even develop animosity toward each other, which could jeopardize their mission. However, other researchers believe that this outcome can be avoided if the astronauts share compatible personalities.
8. The Dust Storm
In January 2004, NASA's Opportunity rover landed on Mars for a 90-day mission (in Mars days) to search for signs of water on the Red Planet. It completed its task almost immediately and went on to carry out additional missions for 15 years. Its unexpected survival came to an end in June 2018, when it lost contact with NASA during a dust storm.
Opportunity was powered by solar energy and would often enter a hibernation state at night. However, it likely switched to its backup battery after a dust storm obscured its solar panels. The rover continued to operate on its battery until it ceased functioning. NASA is concerned that similar incidents could affect the solar-powered stations that astronauts will rely on on Mars.
Mars experiences two kinds of dust storms. The most common are regular storms, which can cover vast areas—comparable to entire continents on Earth. These storms are relatively mild and typically last a few weeks. The more dangerous type is the rare 'global dust storm,' like the one that ended Opportunity’s mission, which can engulf the entire planet.
Global dust storms occur every 5.5 Earth years (or three Martian years) and can last for months. They not only cover solar panels but also block sunlight from reaching Mars, posing a threat to the stations and astronauts. Fortunately, Mars dust storms generally do not cause significant physical harm to the stations. Despite their formidable name, they are more akin to a light breeze than a violent storm.
7. Food
A study conducted by PhD students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) suggested that a human colony on Mars could face the risk of starvation. The research was based on the manned mission planned by Mars One.
Mars One plans to establish a human colony of 25–40 individuals on Mars by 2025. The colonists will rely on crops grown within their habitat for food. An MIT simulation of this habitat revealed that the astronauts would have to choose between having enough food or enough oxygen.
The availability of food and oxygen in the habitat are interconnected, as plants produce oxygen as a by-product. On Mars, this oxygen would be used to sustain the astronauts. The MIT study found that in order to grow sufficient food for everyone, the plants would generate too much oxygen.
Excessive oxygen would be harmful to the astronauts since breathing too much could be fatal. However, oxygen levels would stabilize if the plants produced less food, though this would not provide enough sustenance for everyone. The researchers propose the development of an 'oxygen removal system' to address this issue, although no such system exists yet.
6. Spacecraft
The race to send the first human to Mars is currently being led by NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin. All three organizations have spacecraft capable of taking humans to Mars. However, the rockets they currently use rely on hazardous fuels and would take too long to reach Mars, posing safety concerns for astronauts.
NASA is attempting to address this issue by developing the Space Launch System, which uses liquid hydrogen and other chemicals for fuel. SpaceX is exploring the option of using liquid methane in its spacecraft, while Blue Origin is sticking with liquid hydrogen. Despite these efforts, there is still skepticism about whether these new spacecraft and fuel sources will be sufficient for a successful Mars mission.
Chris Hadfield, a former NASA astronaut, compared traveling to Mars—using even the most advanced spacecraft currently under development—to crossing an ocean in a canoe. Hadfield argues that the hazards of space travel and the uncertainties surrounding these spacecraft will likely result in the death of most astronauts long before they ever reach Mars.
Interestingly, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk shares this perspective, once commenting that the first manned mission to Mars will most likely end in death.
5. Surgery
As the prospect of long-duration human missions to the Moon and Mars approaches, scientists are facing new challenges related to performing surgery in space. The unique environment of space increases the likelihood that astronauts could succumb to even minor injuries or infections, far more so than on Earth.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are trained to perform various medical procedures, including giving injections, stitching wounds, and even removing teeth. However, if a more serious medical emergency arises, astronauts would have to rely on a spacecraft that is permanently docked at the ISS to return to Earth.
This is because the ISS's sick bay is essentially just a first aid kit. Even if it were upgraded to hospital-level care and had a permanent doctor (which it does not), the lack of gravity would still present a significant obstacle.
Among the many challenges, blood from a wound or surgical incision could float around and obscure the doctor's view. Even worse, it could contaminate the entire cabin. Additionally, anesthesia doesn’t function as effectively in space, resulting in significant pain for the astronaut.
These issues could become even more severe during extended space missions to the Moon and Mars. One proposed solution is to employ robotic surgeons controlled remotely by human doctors on Earth. While this approach could work on the Moon, it would be unfeasible on Mars, where communication delays mean it takes 20 minutes for information to travel each way.
4. Mars Toxic Dust
Mars is covered in toxic dust, posing a significant threat to any manned mission to the Red Planet. The dust consists of fine, round, electrically charged silicate particles that will adhere to astronauts’ suits. This dust will be difficult to clean off, raising concerns that it could infiltrate the astronauts’ habitat and damage essential equipment like water purifiers and air filters.
This could be deadly, as the fine silicate particles might enter the lungs, where they will react with water to produce harmful chemicals. The situation worsens when we consider that the dust contains gypsum and perchlorates. While gypsum is not inherently dangerous, prolonged exposure can lead to eye, skin, and lung issues. Perchlorates, on the other hand, are linked to thyroid gland problems.
3. The Return Trip
With today’s technology, a Mars expedition would be a one-way journey, as astronauts traveling to Mars would be unable to return to Earth. While NASA is working on the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) to enable the return trip, the technology has its own set of challenges.
Once completed, the MAV will weigh 18 tons and carry an additional 33 tons of fuel for liftoff from Mars. This massive weight means it won’t be able to land safely on Mars due to the planet’s thin atmosphere, potentially causing it to burn up in the atmosphere or crash into the ground. To put this into perspective, the heaviest object we've successfully landed on Mars is the Curiosity rover, which weighs just one ton.
NASA plans to address this challenge by reducing the MAV's weight and developing an inflatable heat shield that will help slow the spacecraft's descent speed to Mars. The MAV will have a basic design and may even lack seats. However, astronauts won’t be standing during the entire journey back to Earth. Instead, they will be transported to the Earth Return Vehicle (ERV), which will orbit Mars and carry them home.
To further cut down on weight, the ERV will be designed as part of a two-part system, instead of a single spacecraft for the entire mission. The MAV will launch from Mars's surface, ferry the astronauts to the ERV, which will then carry them back to Earth.
To lighten the MAV even more, scientists plan to have it generate its fuel from Mars’s atmosphere. The MAV will extract methane (carbon and hydrogen) and oxygen, both of which are necessary for fuel production, from underground water and the abundant carbon dioxide (CO2) present in Mars's atmosphere.
2. Our Bodies Cannot Cope
The human body struggles to adapt to the zero gravity environment found aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This challenge would be amplified during and after a trip to Mars, as astronauts would face three different gravitational forces on their journey.
The first gravitational field is the one we are accustomed to on Earth (both before and after the mission). The second is the zero gravity astronauts experience while traveling from Earth to Mars. The third is the Martian gravity, which is only one-third of Earth's gravity.
Switching between these gravitational fields causes a disruption in our senses of balance and motion. It also impairs the coordination of our eyes, head, and hands. The reduced gravity beyond Earth results in astronauts losing bone density, making their bones more prone to fractures when they return to Earth.
The diminished gravity outside Earth also causes body fluids to shift toward the head. This can lead to various issues, such as kidney stones, dehydration, calcium loss, and vision problems. Although drugs could help mitigate these effects, they work differently in space.
1. Exposure To Space Elements
Space is teeming with hazardous cosmic rays and unpredictable solar storms, both of which could lead to harmful radiation exposure. Experts forecast that astronauts traveling to Mars could be subjected to radiation levels up to 20 percent higher than what they would experience during their entire lifetime on Earth. Such radiation could lead to heart, lung, and eye issues, neurological disorders, and even cancer.
This poses a significant challenge, as a one-way trip to Mars could stretch over six months. The unpredictability of solar storms only adds to the risk. One potential solution is to develop spacecraft capable of reaching Mars more rapidly. However, even upon arrival on Mars, astronauts will not be entirely safe from radiation threats.
While Earth's atmosphere shields us from harmful radiation, Mars lacks such protective coverage. To address this, scientists suggest covering Martian habitats with a thick material designed to shield against solar storms, similar to the protection found on parts of the ISS. Alternatively, some propose using Mars's numerous lava tube caves as safe havens for humans to avoid radiation exposure.
