Can humans handle a trip to Mars?
Traveling to Mars is certainly not a routine. But to say that the risk of failure is high is misleading. It is wrong to bring the oldest and most recent flight attempts into the same balance. The same goes for tests by those who apparently do not know the technology and those who do, namely the United States. They have a track record - eleven successes since 2001, no failures - should be the basis for future considerations.
When Elon Musk's spaceship is available, the landing will be less endangered than with a robotic mission because people and fuel reserves will be on board. They can intervene in unforeseen difficulties, and the reserves enable the flight to be extended if necessary. The landing site for the first mission must, of course, be chosen very carefully.
Weightlessness is a problem. However, a distinction must be made between the first missions, where there will be no "welcoming committee," and the subsequent ones. The first astronauts on Mars will have to rest on board for a few days before descending. After all, 1 kilo is still 380 grams on Mars and not 0 as on the ship. Of course, it would be ideal for simulating artificial gravity in flight. Theoretically, there are solutions for this. We have to test them.
The high noise level of the ventilation and air conditioning systems, the lack of a natural day-night cycle, the close coexistence, the limited amount of water will be the inconveniences of the trip. Restricting these as much as possible (active noise control, light intensity control) is a realistic goal. It can be assumed that on the first few flights, passengers will be extremely motivated by the prospect of their activities on Mars.
Radiation is a real problem with SeP (Solar energetical Particles), which is protons emitted by the sun, leading to SPE (Solar Particle Event). We can do nothing about it except to expose ourselves as little as possible. However, two or three round trips from Earth to Mars and back can be considered without serious consequences.
Can humans survive a stay on Mars?
The difference between the moon or the ISS is that we will have access to all atmospheric resources of the planet and especially to water on Mars. Water ice can be removed from the ground, transported in a solid state, and melted in a greenhouse. The first uses start with cultivating plants, spirulina algae, and the rearing of fish in tanks (plants by hydroponics to avoid wasting imported nutrients and avoid the risk of contamination from perchlorates in the soil).
The essential foods for the 30 months of absence are completely imported, freeze-dried or frozen, with the necessary food supplements for safety reasons. We will only leave the shelters if it is necessary to limit the radiation doses. These will only be half as intense on the planet (for example, in the Gale crater) as in deep space.
The medical risk is undisputed. Doctors will be among the first astronauts, even if there are only four. You can always take the advice of your terrestrial counterparts. The drugs imported from the earth will, of course, be limited. We will have to choose carefully and hope that they will meet our needs. It will certainly be necessary to do some surgical operation, hoping nothing serious will occur. It should be noted that all types of instruments can be made on-site with 3D printers using Martian resources (minerals and gas).
The trips are carried out in a counter-pressure suit ("Bio-Suit" from MIT), as pressure suits should be avoided due to their stiffness. We should make the habitats viable with reduced pressure to avoid too great a difference between inside and outside (and thus stress on the structures of the habitats) by increasing the oxygen rate in proportion (42% for 0.5 bar).
Dust is still a problem as there is an atmosphere without liquid water on the surface. However, it would be best if you didn't overdo it. The swirling dust is not massive in "normal times": Curiosity's images in the Gale crater clearly show the crater walls several dozen kilometers away. The dust will often need to be blown off all of the equipment and surfaces. But there has been erosion on Mars, if only from wind, and the particles are much less aggressive than on the moon.
The return to earth will be made with fuels obtained on Mars from the CO2 in the atmosphere and local water through the Sabatier reaction. The energy can only be of nuclear origin (Krusty or Megapower, when the development of this last reactor is completed). Such reactors are not dangerous as long as the reaction is not initiated.
What's the point of a trip to Mars?
Research into solutions for life on Mars will positively affect a more sustainable, efficient life on earth. The human presence on Mars would give a great boost to scientific research. Finally, the adventure impulses inherent in every human being are also satisfied.
Conclusion
If the Mars project works, we will have a planet B. And with it a new chance for humanity and a conservatory for their civilization
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