Space has always attracted humanity, people have sought to conquer the starry peaks and find out what the heavenly abyss hides. There were first steps on the moon which heralded the great progress of the whole world. Each country strives to make a particularly significant discovery, which is sure to be saddened in history. However, the level of scientific achievements and modern technical equipment do not allow conquering distant and mysterious celestial bodies. How many times, in theory, expeditions to Mars have been carried out, the implementation of which in practice is currently very difficult. But scientists believe that in the next decade, a human foot will set foot on the red planet. And who knows what surprises await us there. The hope of extraterrestrial life excites many minds.
Manned expedition to Mars will definitely take place someday. And today even the approximate dates set by scientists are known.
Flight Perspective
Today, an expedition to Mars is planned for 2017, but it is not knownwhether it will come true or not. This date is determined by the fact that it is at this time that the orbit of the Earth will be as close as possible to the orbit of Mars. The flight will take two or even two and a half years. The ship will have a mass of about 500 tons, which is exactly the volume required for the astronauts to feel at least comfortable.
The main creators of the "Mission to Mars" program are the USA and Russia. It was these powers that made significant discoveries in the field of the conquest of outer space. The development concept covers activities until 2040.
All stakeholders would like to send the first astronauts to a distant planet in 2017, but in reality these plans are difficult to implement. It is very difficult to create a single huge aircraft, so it was decided to work with complexes. They will be delivered by booster rockets in parts to the orbit of the planet. At the same time, it is calculated to create a fully automated process in order to minimize the energy costs of astronauts. This will gradually create the necessary infrastructure in space.
Manned expedition has been planned for about half a century. "Mars" is a lost station of the USSR back in 1988, which for the first time transmitted to earth photographs of the surface of red soil and one of the planet's satellites. Since then, various countries have launched interplanetary stations to study Mars.
Problems with the Mars expedition
Expedition to Mars will take a long time. To date, humanity has the experience of a long stay in space. Valery Polyakov - a doctor who spent onEarth's orbit for a year and six months. With correct calculations, this time may be enough to reach Mars. It is very likely that it may increase by another six months or so. The big problem is that immediately after landing on a foreign planet, the astronauts will need to start reconnaissance work. They will not have the opportunity to adapt and get used to it.
Difficult flight conditions
Completely new technologies are required to go to Mars. A number of important conditions must be met. Only in this case, the probability that the first expedition to Mars will still be successfully carried out increases to the maximum. It is necessary to take into account a number of factors when developing a project to conquer Martian space. One of the most basic is the life support of the crew. It will be implemented if a closed cycle is created. The necessary reserves of water and food are supplied into orbit with the support of special ships. In the case of Mars, spacecraft passengers will only need to rely on personal strength. Scientists create methods to regenerate water and produce oxygen using the electrolysis method.
Another important factor is radiation. This is a serious problem for humans. Various studies are able to provide answers to questions related to the influence of electromagnetic energy on the body as a whole. Such exposure is likely to lead to cataracts, changes in the genetic composition of cells and the rapid growth of cancer cells. Developed medicinescannot completely protect people from the harmful effects of radiation. Therefore, some sort of shelter should be considered.
Weightlessness
Weightlessness is also an important issue. The absence of gravity leads to changes in the body. It is especially problematic to deal with the emerging illusion, which leads to the appearance of an incorrect perception of distance. There is also a serious hormonal restructuring, fraught with unpleasant consequences. The problem is that there is a strong loss of calcium. Bone tissue is destroyed and muscle atrophy is provoked. Doctors are very concerned about all these adverse effects of weightlessness. Usually, after returning to Earth, the space crew team is engaged in the active restoration of depleted mineral reserves in the body. It takes about a year or more. To reduce the adverse effects of the absence of gravity, special short-radius centrifuges have been developed. Experimental work with them is still being carried out today, since it is difficult for scientists to decide how long such a centrifuge should work to create favorable conditions for astronauts.
All this is not only scientifically and technically difficult, but also incredibly expensive.
Medical problems
Medicine requires special attention. It is necessary to create such conditions that, if necessary, during the expedition to Mars, it would be possible to carry out a simple surgical operation. There is a high probability that an unknown person lives on the red planeta virus or microbe that could wipe out an entire crew in a matter of hours. Physicians of several specializations must be present on board. Very good therapists, psychologists and surgeons. It will be necessary to periodically take tests from the crew members, to monitor the condition of the whole organism. This moment requires the presence of the necessary medical equipment on board.
Disturbances in the sensation of the day will lead to improper metabolism and the appearance of insomnia. This will need to be controlled as much as possible and eliminated by taking special drugs. Work will be carried out daily in very difficult and extreme technological conditions. Momentary weakness will inevitably lead to serious mistakes.
Psychological stress
The psychological burden on the entire crew of the ship will be enormous. The possibility that for astronauts the flight to Mars may be the last expedition, will inevitably lead to the emergence of fears, depression, feelings of hopelessness and depressive states. And that is not all. Under negative psychological pressure during an expedition to Mars, people will inevitably begin to enter into conflict situations that can provoke irreparable consequences. Therefore, the selection for shuttles is always carried out very, very carefully. Future astronauts undergo a lot of psychological tests that reveal their strengths and weaknesses. It is important to create the illusion of a familiar world on the ship. For example, consider the change of the year, the presence of vegetation, and even the imitation of bird voices. This will make it easier to stayalien planet and alleviate stressful situations.
Crew selection
Question number one: "Who will fly to a distant planet?" The space community is sensibly aware that such a breakthrough should be made by an international crew. You cannot place all the responsibility on one country. To prevent the failure of the expedition to Mars, it is necessary to think through every technical and psychological moment. The crew should include true experts in many areas who will provide the necessary assistance in emergency situations and be able to easily adapt to the new environment.
Mars is the distant dream of many astronauts. But not everyone seeks to nominate their candidacy for this flight. Because such a journey is very dangerous, fraught with many mysteries and may be the last. Although there are desperate daredevils who yearn for their names to be included in the coveted lists of participants in the Expedition to Mars program. Volunteers are already applying. Even gloomy forecasts do not stop them. Scientists openly warn that for astronauts this is - quite possibly - the last expedition. Modern technologies will be able to deliver a spacecraft to Mars, but whether it will be possible to launch from the planet is unknown.
Male chauvinism
All scientists are unanimous in the opinion that women should be removed from the first expedition. The following arguments are given in favor of this:
- the female body is not well studied in the space zone, it is not known how in conditions of prolonged weightlessnesshis complex hormonal system will behave,
- physically a lady is less hardy than a man,
- numerous tests and scientific studies confirm that the psychology of women is naturally less adapted to extreme situations, they are more prone to depression in a state of hopelessness.
Why go to this planet at all?
All scientists unanimously declare that this planet is very similar to our Earth. It is believed that once the same rivers flowed on its surface and plants and trees grew. To establish the reasons why life on Mars ended, it is necessary to carry out research activities. This is a complex study of soil and air. Mars rovers have already taken samples many times, and these data have been studied in detail. However, there is very little material, so it was not possible to draw up a general picture. It was only established that it is possible to live on the Red Planet under certain conditions.
It is believed that if there is a possibility of organizing a colony on Mars, then this should be used. Living on our plane is potentially risky. For example, when a huge meteorite enters the Earth's atmosphere, the complete destruction of all life will occur. But with the development of Martian space, one can hope to save part of the human race.
In the current conditions of overpopulation of our planet, the exploration of Mars will help overcome the demographic crisis.
Many political leaders wonder what the depths of the Red Planet hide. After all, natural resources are running out, which meansnew sources would be very helpful.
Studying stars that are farther from the Earth, but closer to Mars, the desire to look further into the mysterious depths of space is another reason for the desire to conquer the Red Planet.
In the future, Mars can be used as a testing ground for experiments (for example, atomic explosions), which are very dangerous for the Earth.
Similarities and differences between the blue and red planets
Mars is a lot like Earth. For example, its day is only 40 minutes longer than Earth's. On Mars, the seasons also change, there is an atmosphere similar to ours, which protects the planet from cosmic and solar radiation. NASA research has confirmed that there is water on Mars. The Martian soil is similar in its parameters to the earth. There are places on Mars whose landscape and natural conditions are similar to those on Earth.
Naturally, there are much more differences between the planets, and they are incomparably more significant. A brief list of differences - 2 times less gravity, low air temperature, lack of solar energy, low atmospheric pressure and a weak magnetic field, a high level of radiation - indicates that life on Mars, familiar to earthlings, is still impossible.
