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Orion and Delta IV launch into space. Astronauts traveling to the surface of Mars may develop cancer of the stomach or colon. Scientists have discovered that a long-term exposure to cosmic radiation can significantly damage a person's gastrointestinal tissue. ( NASA )
Sending a human to the surface of Mars would be the next big step in the space age, but getting there safely would be a problem.
A new study supported by NASA has revealed that long trips into the deep space could significantly damage a person's gastrointestinal tissue, thus resulting in long-term health complications. Long-term galactic cosmic radiation exposure can kill astronauts heading towards the red planet.
How cosmic radiation can kill humans
Researchers at the Georgetown University Medical Center simulated what would happen to astronauts exposed to galactic cosmic radiation using the mouse's small intestine as a model system and an iron-based radiation at low dose.
"Heavy ions such as iron and silicon cause damage because of their higher mass than massless photons such as X-rays and gamma rays (g) scattered on Earth, as well as low-mass protons in the space, "explained the associate Professor Kamal Datta, the main investigator of the study.
After being exposed to low doses of ferrous radiation, the researchers found that the small intestine of mice absorbed nutrients more adequately. The animals also develop cancerous polyps, which raises concerns about the high risk of stomach and colon cancer in traveling astronauts.
In addition, researchers have also highlighted the fact that iron radiation also triggers the increase in the number of senescent cells. According to Professor Datta, this affected the migration of cells needed to replace the lining of the small intestine, thus slowing the function of the gastrointestinal tissue.
Albert Fornace Jr. of NASA's Specialized Research Center said the effects of low-dose iron radiation are permanent.
Are humans ready for difficult conditions in space?
NASA has recently established a road map to send humans back to the moon and eventually send a human mission to Mars. According to Craig Patten, a physicist at the University of California at San Diego, it would take nine months for a spacecraft to land on the surface of Mars.
It is an extremely long time for a person exposed to cosmic radiation. While the Earth is regularly bombarded, humans are protected by the magnetosphere and, therefore, have not evolved to take huge doses in space.
Datta added that there is currently no technology to protect astronauts from cosmic galactic radiation.
"Although short trips, like those that astronauts have traveled to get to the moon, do not expose them to this level of damage, the real concern is the lasting injury of a long ride, such as a mission on Mars or another mission in the far space much longer, "he said.
Their conclusions were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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