DailyDirt: How Can We Get To Mars?

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Tue, Oct 21st 2014 5:00pm — Michael Ho

We already have a bunch of robots exploring various aspects of Mars, but even though we're not running out of things that bots can do in space, it would be nice to get astronauts walking on another planet someday. We could go back to the moon, but Mars is a more ambitious and noteworthy goal. Getting to Mars safely is a challenge because it'll take several weeks (at least) to get there, and no one has ever tested radiation shielding on such a long trip in open space. Still, it should be possible if we're committed to doing it. Here are just a few baby steps towards making a trip to Mars happen.

Martha Lenio is trapped on an island with 5 other people in a simulated Mars mission. The Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) project is funded by NASA, and these fake astronauts will spend 8 months isolated in a geodesic dome in Hawaii. [url]
NASA is considering an induced therapeutic hypothermia for astronauts traveling to extremely distant locations. Science fiction often points to hibernation as a way to avoid the boredom of space travel, so it only makes sense to actually see if such a medical procedure is feasible. [url]
Could personal sensors detect various problems like homesickness, depression and other psychological issues? NASA has had problems with disobedient astronauts in the past, but more monitoring during stressful situations on a cramped spacecraft might not be the answer. [url]

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Filed Under: hi-seas, induced therapeutic hypothermia, manned missions, mars, martha lenio, space, space exploration
Companies: nasa

10 Comments

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Reader Comments

The First Word

“

Moon first, please...

I find the preoccupation with Mars as a place for human settlement silly. It seems obvious to me that we'd be much better off using the Moon as a site for improving our technical ability to make robots which could be useful (and probably essential) to "break ground" before sending humans (since neither Mars nor the Moon have strong enough magnetic fields for radiation shielding, the only way for humans to survive there for long periods is to stay deep underground most of the time).

Mars has the advantage of having an atmosphere and (probably more) water, but it is just too cold and too far away from the Sun. Temperatures in the shade there are approximately the temperature of dry ice.

—RonKaminsky

”

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Mason Wheeler (profile), 21 Oct 2014 @ 5:31pm

Science fiction often points to hibernation as a way to avoid the boredom of space travel, so it only makes sense to actually see if such a medical procedure is feasible.

...or they could try the time-honored, tested and true remedy to avoid boredom: entertainment! No medical procedures necessary.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Oct 2014 @ 5:41pm

It's interesting to see the focus on these concepts for crew stasis, but I can't help be reminded by this...

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=4185
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Oct 2014 @ 6:15pm

Sensors that can detect psychological issues? Could we get some of those for politicians, CEOs, and police officers?
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Oct 2014 @ 6:55pm

several weeks (at least)
"Getting to Mars safely is a challenge because it'll take several weeks (at least) to get there"

To get to Mars in "several weeks" would require a propulsion system with considerably more punch than standard fuel-oxidizer type rocket engines. Current estimates range from 7 to 9 months in space flight to reach Mars. Both legs of the trip would require waiting for the planet's orbits to align correctly before launching. (and if you miss it, it's another two year wait until the next launch window.)
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- John Fenderson (profile), 21 Oct 2014 @ 9:01pm
  
  Re: several weeks (at least)
  While it's very clear that chemical propulsion is rather inadequate for a trip to mars (for two reasons -- they're very slow, as you point out, and you need to take quite a bit of fuel with you), there are two technologies right now that could get people to mars in about two months: ion propulsion and nuclear thermal propulsion.
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  - Anon, 22 Oct 2014 @ 8:41am
    
    Re: Re: several weeks (at least)
    Or we could just stop suppressing the discoveries of Dr. Thomas Townsend Brown.
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    - RonKaminsky (profile), 22 Oct 2014 @ 12:53pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: several weeks (at least)
      > Or we could just stop suppressing the discoveries of Dr. Thomas Townsend Brown.
      
      You don't understand! If we (you know, those of us really in charge) shut off the Brown effect suppression field, terrorists will be able to block the gravity of the Sun, sending the Earth spinning out of its orbit and killing us all!
      
      /sarc
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Oct 2014 @ 11:57am

They Just Need Gaming Servers on Board
I know that if I was put on a mission to Mars, I would be totally happy with a World of Warcraft Private Server to toodle around in just to kill time on the trip.

I know people have been killing time for 10 years now on that game. haha. (Can't poke too much fun since it's been 6 years myself.)
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- John Fenderson (profile), 22 Oct 2014 @ 12:02pm
  
  Re: They Just Need Gaming Servers on Board
  Never having played WoW, I could be way offbase with this -- but isn't the primary attraction of the game that you're playing against many other human beings? A private server where it's just you (or maybe a couple of fellow travelers) seems like it would get boring really quickly.
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RonKaminsky (profile), 22 Oct 2014 @ 1:11pm

Moon first, please...
I find the preoccupation with Mars as a place for human settlement silly. It seems obvious to me that we'd be much better off using the Moon as a site for improving our technical ability to make robots which could be useful (and probably essential) to "break ground" before sending humans (since neither Mars nor the Moon have strong enough magnetic fields for radiation shielding, the only way for humans to survive there for long periods is to stay deep underground most of the time).

Mars has the advantage of having an atmosphere and (probably more) water, but it is just too cold and too far away from the Sun. Temperatures in the shade there are approximately the temperature of dry ice.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]