4 ms·

Maybe I've missed the articles where people have really good ideas on how to protect travelers from solar radiation for the duration of the voyage, or maybe I'v

by Pigo 9y ago

Maybe I've missed the articles where people have really good ideas on how to protect travelers from solar radiation for the duration of the voyage, or maybe I've been misinformed on how big of a problem that is. I suppose I'd just like to hear that there is progress on these fronts, as well as playing with Martian mud. It feels like pandering to Sheldon's who dream of fleeing Earth.

LeifCarrotson 9y ago
Probably the latter, it's not that big a deal. http://www.mars-one.com/faq/health-and-ethics/how-much-radiation-will-the-settlers-be-exposed-to http://www.mars-one.com/faq/health-and-ethics/how-much-radia... The article is obviously a little biased, but still seems reasonable. But on top of all this, to me at least, is the question of how much should be expected of the pioneers. Should they be as safe as someone who buys an airline ticket? Or should they suffer increased cancer risk, an inability to return, limited living space, and so on? I think that it wouldn't be unreasonable to even triple the radiation dose allowed modern NASA astronauts, who are expected to retire and live long healthy lives.
- Pigo 9y ago
  I find this surprising. I recall watching/reading accounts (from sources that were definitely on-board with the venture) claiming that unanticipated solar flares add a lot of complication. But even disregarding the perils of such a trip, there's so much to contend with that makes it not just a exciting hot-spot for pioneer types. The static buildup due to soil up to 50 times as fine as dust on Earth (soil full of toxic perchlorate salts too), living for the rest of your life in 38% the gravity human bodies have evolved in, zero nature or anything else we evolved in, and of course living in a bio-dome without Pauly Shore. I wish they'd teleport us there with better, and better, VR equipment. So everyone on Earth could experience Mars first hand.

by Pigo 9y ago

LeifCarrotson 9y ago

Probably the latter, it's not that big a deal. http://www.mars-one.com/faq/health-and-ethics/how-much-radiation-will-the-settlers-be-exposed-to http://www.mars-one.com/faq/health-and-ethics/how-much-radia... The article is obviously a little biased, but still seems reasonable. But on top of all this, to me at least, is the question of how much should be expected of the pioneers. Should they be as safe as someone who buys an airline ticket? Or should they suffer increased cancer risk, an inability to return, limited living space, and so on? I think that it wouldn't be unreasonable to even triple the radiation dose allowed modern NASA astronauts, who are expected to retire and live long healthy lives.

Pigo 9y ago
I find this surprising. I recall watching/reading accounts (from sources that were definitely on-board with the venture) claiming that unanticipated solar flares add a lot of complication. But even disregarding the perils of such a trip, there's so much to contend with that makes it not just a exciting hot-spot for pioneer types. The static buildup due to soil up to 50 times as fine as dust on Earth (soil full of toxic perchlorate salts too), living for the rest of your life in 38% the gravity human bodies have evolved in, zero nature or anything else we evolved in, and of course living in a bio-dome without Pauly Shore. I wish they'd teleport us there with better, and better, VR equipment. So everyone on Earth could experience Mars first hand.