The Hazards Of Space Flight

The idea of travelling to Mars is exciting, especially when we know it will happen in our lifetime. However, its hazards can’t be ignored, because these hazards are deadly in the hostile environment of space and can ruin multi-billion-dollar missions. NASA has made a list of hazards that astronauts might face during their journey. Here are a few of them: 

 

Radiation 

Even though we can detect the amount of radiation that comes our way, it is sometimes impossible to predict when we will be exposed to some sort of unknown radiation, as it is mostly invisible to our eyes and machines. Exposure to radiation can increase the risk of cancer in astronauts. 

 

Isolation and behavioural issues 

Since astronauts will be confined to a small space in their spacecraft away from society for a long time, it is likely that they will experience behavioural problems. This problem can happen to the best-trained astronauts as well. They might also face problems with sleep, as their circadian rhythm isn’t the same as what it was on Earth. 

 

Lack of gravity 

The journey to Mars and back can take up to three years. During this period of time, the astronauts’ bodies won’t fight against any gravity, and even on Mars, they will experience only 38% of the gravity of the Earth. This can lead to serious health risks such as low bone and muscle density in astronauts.