As you die on Mars

Man seeks to Mars . NASA plans to land astronauts on the surface of the planet in 2030. Private space companies like SpaceX expressed interest in the colonization of Mars, and Mars One project already prepared a list of civilians who get a one way ticket in 2020.

While many dream to spend their allotted days on the Red Planet, these days can be counted on the fingers. The environment of Mars is very different from the Earth, so engineers have to solve a lot of technical problems relating to the safety of people on the planet. Not all solutions are, and development can take many years. If much to hasten the flight, you can finish the journey tragic.

Popular Science has made a list of problems , because of which people die on Mars.

You will break h4> Let's say that you have spent many months in space travel, and finally got to the orbit of Mars. It remains the most simple - to go down to the surface. And here comes the problem: the atmosphere of Mars is 100 times less dense than Earth's atmosphere.

On Earth for landing spacecraft used parachutes, and the atmosphere helps to slow flight. The more object - the more difficult to prevent him coming to the surface. On Mars, gently put the device will be much more difficult.

Brett Drake, deputy head of research missions NASA, said that the existing technology was put to Mars object weighing one ton. For comparison, the maximum mass of Dragon with cargo for the ISS - more than seven tons. Drake adds that NASA should be planted at a time from 20 to 30 tons, to deliver astronauts, equipment and provisions.

Agencies need to design a unique braking system. Now scientists are working on Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator - supersonic retarder is disc-shaped. Inflatable balloon will increase the surface area of ​​the lander to slow down in the Martian atmosphere. The device will be tested in the world in June in Hawaii.

Mars One, and SpaceX has not yet explained how they plan to pull their vehicles on the surface of Mars.

You freeze h4> Astronauts will have to deal with severe weather. The average temperature on the surface of Mars - minus 62 degrees Celsius, but it varies depending on the season, time of day and location. At the equator the temperature of 27 degrees, and at the poles 175 degrees below zero.

Scientists and engineers have come up with many ways that enable cosmonauts and astronauts to deal with strong fluctuations in temperature - thanks to the International Space Station. When the ISS is located on the sunny side, it can withstand 90 degrees, and on the night side - minus 130 degrees. The suits of astronauts and cosmonauts, and the station itself are equipped with temperature control that saves and the cold and the heat.

These systems are designed to operate in a vacuum. For the atmosphere of Mars have to work on new technologies.



The south polar cap of Mars i>

You are going to die of hunger h4> Life at the Martian surface would be something like the life in Antarctica. All food, tools and other cargo station in Antarctica receive from other continents, and such deliveries do not happen very often. In the case of Mars, the supply will be much less - to fly to the planet, it will take 9 to 12 months after the take-off, which may be delayed for various reasons. To the colony could survive, you need something to grow on their own - for example, create a farm.

Mars One wants to grow crops in areas with artificial lighting. 80 square meters of space will occupy the plant. Watering plants will be water, which will find in the soil of the planet. Carbon dioxide from the vegetables will have a crew of four.

Researchers at MIT have found a weak point in this regard. According to their calculations, carbon dioxide from the four will not be enough to maintain a sufficient amount of plant life. The crew of a larger number of people will not solve the problem: in any case, enough food half team.

It is necessary to grow any crop less - but then the food will be less than you need - or find a way to generate additional carbon dioxide. For example, do it from the oxygen. But in this case, the settlers have less breathing.

You will explode h4> Plants on Mars need not only for food - they are a vital source of oxygen. Use this source better than ever sent to Mars, oxygen tanks, for each kilogram of cargo costs money.

Studies have shown that plants are able to grow in the Martian soil, but so far no one has been growing crops on Earth in a Martian gravity. It is necessary to conduct new research and determine whether or not vegetation to survive on this planet. If the answer is yes - the settlers will be able to feed themselves. In addition, they will receive oxygen.

But large amounts of oxygen in a confined space is a problem. The crew can poison them and, even more frightening, oxygen may explode. The team will need a method of isolating the excess oxygen from the air. On Earth, there are methods for this, but on Mars, they are not checked.

At NASA already has a plan to improve the ecosystem of Mars. Researchers want to send the selected bacteria on the planet - such as cyanobacteria. They are capable of photosynthesis, accompanied by the release of oxygen, and must survive on the planet's surface. A project of Mars Oxygen ISRU Experiment (MOXIE) will release oxygen from carbon dioxide.

You can not fly h4> All of possible scenarios can not survive due to cosmic radiation. This radiation passes readily through the lining of the spacecraft, and its long exposure, according to experiments in mice affects the brain. Moreover - it causes tumors.

ISS astronauts safe from space radiation due to the Earth's magnetic field. This factor will not be during a long journey in space. Effect of radiation on each individual person can be an individual, and women may have no standing to fly.

NASA's Got Talent h4> While many of the technologies are not ready, NASA seeks help from enthusiasts . The Agency conducted a competition among developers and is looking for ideas that will help astronauts survive.

Mars is of 225.3 million kilometers from Earth - delivery of goods will take a long time and be very expensive. The contest "Journey to Mars» NASA is waiting for the best ideas to minimize dependence on the Earth, and the winners will receive $ 5,000.

Later NASA announced a competition printed on the housing of 3D-printers for other planets with a prize pool of $ 2 25 million. We are talking about the development of housing for living on a different planet, including Mars.





Source: geektimes.ru/post/251244/