Scientist: Travel To Mars Could Be Harmful

MARSDAILY

Travel To Mars Could Be Harmful

Once there, the atmosphere of Mars is just enough to give a working level of protection on normal days when out and about on the surface.

Moscow (UPI) Jun 07, 2004
A Russian scientist says manned Martian flights could render a male astronaut sterile, shrink his musculature and weaken his bones.

Valeri Polyakov's comments came during an international symposium on gravitational physiology that began Monday at Moscow's Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosti reported.

"A flight to the Red Planet and back will certainly destroy the reproductive function, what with long exposure to hard radiation. Weightlessness, too, will have its effect causing muscular atrophy and excreting calcium from the bones," Polyakov said.

A male astronaut headed for Mars ought to be no younger than sixty, he said.

"It would be unwise and downright cruel to send selfless boys to Mars, even if they have a long space record."

Polyakov gained the endurance record for space flight after he spent 438 days at the Mir orbital station.

Topics set for discussion include changes in the immune system in zero gravity and the effects of zero gravity on the vestibular apparatus and the ear.

Participants will exchange information about the effects of hypergravity and microgravity on the growth and development of animals, cell biology and the biochemistry of plants.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2004 by United Press International. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by United Press International. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of by United Press International.

MARSDAILY

All Dressed Up And Ready To Explore

by Ryan Smith
Edmonton (SPX) May 26, 2004
As if getting to Mars wasn't hard enough, astronauts also have to worry about what to wear when they arrive. Their concerns are not fashion pundits but exposure to micrometeor sandstorms, radiation, and a hyper-cold climate.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.