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WASHINGTON (CN) – Lawmakers saw Wednesday red – the red planet – testimonials from a group of space exploration experts on the challenges and dangers facing human travelers destined for Mars in the next 15 to 20 years.
This is a 300 million-mile journey from Earth to Mars, and according to the testimony of Tony Bruno, CEO of the United Launch Alliance space launch company, the prospect is more than dangerous or daunting.
He said, "Think of it this way," said Bruno at a meeting of the Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Wednesday. "Getting to Mars, it's like drilling a hole in one in Pebble Beach California while he's leaving Paris, while he's standing on a mobile van … The play of Orbital mechanics alone is very difficult. "
Takeoff and orbiting are aggravated by the major health problems of astronauts, such as cancer, cataracts and others. According to the panel, traveling to Mars exposes astronauts to four times the amount of radiation that humans suffer when they work or live in the International Space Station, said Peggy Whitson. Whitson went to the station three times and was referred to as "fleet leader in radiation exposure."
"And this exhibition is done with the protection of the terrestrial magnetosphere She told the committee
. deter anyone from putting "boots on Mars," she said. The technology created for the express purpose of protecting human bone mass in deep space is already underway on Earth and at the International Space Station. She added that new drugs to slow down or prevent radiation damage are also tested and developed all the time.
Senators asked the panel why robots could not replace human explorers on Mars. "Said Dava Newman, a professor in the aeronautical department at MIT," With human capacity, when we get to Mars, we'll surpass what we've done for 50 years for rovers. "I'm a robotist. robotics.But with humans, we can double or triple our range of exploration. "
A robot can not handle sudden changes in the Martian environment or unexpected obstacles with the same speed or mental dexterity than a human, she added. Bruno Carber, CEO of Explore Mars Inc., a non-profit organization that consults private and public partners about future travel, also said:
"There is no substitute for boots on the ground. pointed out that the trip to Mars would not be a direct flight.
Returning to the moon may seem like an entirely separate issue, but according to Carberry, it's an integral step in the beginning of the trip to Mars.
Developing the technology to get there will take years and will require a unique testing ground. NASA and other partners must continue to explain how the lunar journey can ride the March trip, he said.
Before boarding a spacecraft, space suits, life support systems and search systems must be in place. A more complete understanding of the impact of psychological pressure on astronauts on long, isolated journeys.
The return to the moon and its use as a launching pad will help NASA and other researchers understand how to realize these developments in real time. But it's not enough to go back to the moon.
Given its climate and potentially habitable atmosphere, Mars is the "best option possible when humans want to understand how to sustain life".
is targeted as the prime real estate for marketing by private and public partners – and with good reason, said Tony Bruno.
What can be accomplished – or achieved – by developing the low Earth orbit in the pursuit of Mars will be a game changer, he explained.
"Today, we think of the land and fixed resources we have in a world where there is more and more scarcity, but a thousand years ago total production of metals in asteroids between here and the moon. "
There are also more precious metals than ever before in the history of mankind. Convenient and affordable to access these resources, we envision a human future completely different from what we have seen before. "
Although the Senate Committee is focusing on obtaining" American boots "on the red.The planet first, the panel stressed to lawmakers that the effort should be an effort
Not only would this offset the expense, it would also promote goodwill.
Wednesday's hearing is the first of many to be held by the committee as plans develop. [19659002]
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