Although the idea of life on Mars may sound like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster, companies including NASA and SpaceX are seriously considering it as an option.
Several challenges are currently facing us, including building a self-sufficient spacecraft that can safely take the crew safely, and finding a way to protect astronauts from dangerous solar and cosmic radiation – not to mention allowing them to live in microgravity on the planet. without atmosphere.
This week, Lord Martin Rees, one of the country’s leading astronomers, said the obvious solution to some of these problems is to turn future researchers into cyborgs.
Lord Reese told the Hay Festival: “These fearless explorers of Mars will be out of the hands of regulators and will have every incentive to change because they are very poorly adapted to Mars.
“They will use all these techniques to adapt. Within a generation or two, they could become a completely different species.
“We don’t know what a mixture of flesh, blood and electronics they will be, but if they become electronic, then, of course, they could be almost immortal.
“If that’s the case, they could make a very long interstellar journey, hibernating for millennia.”
So will future Martians really have to become cyborgs? Here, MailOnline examines the challenges facing human colonizers hoping to settle on the Red Planet, and reveals how becoming a cyborg could solve some of them.
Although the idea of life on Mars may sound like the plot of the latest science fiction blockbuster, companies including NASA and SpaceX are seriously considering it as an option. Pictured: a conceptual image of what life on Mars might look like
The Cyborg system stops you having to drink water
Nasal inserts convert moisture in the air we breathe into water, while inserts at the ends of the kidney and digestive system prevent water from leaving these pathways.
In 2013, the Japanese company Takram unveiled ambitious plans for artificial implantable organs that could eliminate hydration.
The system, called the Hydrolemic System, involves collecting more moisture from the air and also doing more to retain the water we have.
Nasal inserts convert moisture in the air we breathe into water, while inserts at the ends of the kidney and digestive system prevent water from entering these pathways.
Meanwhile, a neck collar helps prevent sweating by converting our body heat into electricity so that it doesn’t make us sweat.
The company claims that such a system would require us to drink only 0.1 glasses of water a day.
Survival in microgravity
One of the biggest challenges for human colonizers will be to stay fit and healthy on Mars.
Studies show that moving from one gravitational field to another can affect spatial orientation, head-eye and hand-eye coordination, balance and movement.
Astronauts are also experiencing changes in bones and muscles in space.
“In addition, body fluids shift upward toward the head under microgravity, which can put pressure on the eyes and cause vision problems,” NASA added.
“If preventive or countermeasures are not taken, crews may be at increased risk of developing kidney stones due to dehydration and increased calcium excretion from their bones.”
NASA is looking for several ways to keep astronauts healthy during missions to Mars, including artificial gravity devices and vibrating platforms to help regenerate bone and muscle.
Becoming a cyborg can be helpful in counteracting the effects of microgravity on the human body.
For example, humans may be provided with iron lungs or steel plates under the skin to protect our delicate organs and make us more resistant to the effects of microgravity.
Adaptation to the Martian climate
Because Mars is farther from the sun, temperatures there are much lower than on Earth.
On the Red Planet, temperatures can drop to -200 ° F (-128 ° C). By comparison, the lowest temperature on Earth is -128.6 ° F (-88 ° C).
Fortunately, NASA’s next-generation spacesuits, which it unveiled in 2019, are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and should help keep warm settlers.
“The suit is designed to withstand temperature extremes of -250 ° F [-156°C] in the shade and up to 250 ° F [121°C] in the sun, “said NASA.
Cyborgs could implant such technology in their bodies or in the form of an exoskeleton – although NASA spacesuits will offer a good alternative for those who hope to remain fully human!
This week, Lord Martin Rees, one of the country’s leading astronomers, said the obvious solution to many of the problems people hope to settle in Mar is to get future researchers to part with cyborgs (image)
Fortunately, NASA’s next-generation spacesuits, which it unveiled in 2019, are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and should help keep warm settlers
NASA plans to combine a Martian home and vehicle in one rover full of breathable air (the impression of the artist in the photo)
How cold is Mars?
Because Mars is farther from the sun, temperatures there are much lower than on Earth.
On the Red Planet, temperatures can drop to -200 ° F (-128 ° C). By comparison, the lowest temperature on Earth is -128.6 ° F (-88 ° C).
Fortunately, NASA’s next-generation spacesuits, which it unveiled in 2019, are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and should help keep warm settlers.
“The suit is designed to withstand temperature extremes of -250 ° F [-156°C] in the shade and up to 250 ° F [121°C] in the sun, “said NASA.
Breathing on Mars
The atmosphere on Mars is extremely thin and mostly dominated by carbon dioxide.
“For humans on Earth, it’s a poisonous gas in high concentrations,” said Dr. Filindia Gant and Amy Williams, geology experts at the University of Florida, in an article for The Conversation.
“Fortunately, it makes up much less than one percent of our atmosphere. But on Mars, carbon dioxide is 96 percent of the air!
As a result, if a person tries to breathe on Mars without any protection, he will immediately suffocate.
Fortunately, NASA’s spacesuits have a portable life support system installed to ensure that doesn’t happen.
“The portable life support system is the familiar backpack that astronauts carry during space travel, which stores suit power and breathing air and removes exhaled carbon dioxide and other toxic gases, odors and moisture from the suit,” NASA said.
“He also helps regulate the temperature and monitors the overall performance of the suit by issuing warnings if resources fall or if there is a systemic failure.
“Miniaturization of electronics and plumbing systems has made it possible to build duplicates for much of the system, making some faults less worrying.”
As with surviving low temperatures, being a cyborg can make it easier to breathe on Mars without assistance.
For example, cyborgs may somehow have a permanent breathing apparatus built into their bodies that filters CO2 and supplies oxygen to the body.
Future astronauts can survive on the surface of Mars thanks to solar generators, after scientists discovered that they are more energy efficient than nuclear energy
Travel on the surface of Mars
When it comes to traveling across the Martian surface, NASA plans to combine a Martian home and vehicle into one rover full of breathable air.
“Like the RV, the pressure rover will have everything astronauts need to live and work for weeks,” NASA said.
“They can drive in comfortable clothes, tens of miles from the spaceship that will launch them back into space for the return trip to Earth.
“When they encounter places of interest, astronauts can put on their high-tech spacesuits to get out of the rover and collect samples and conduct scientific experiments.”
Cyborgs could have bionic prostheses or wearable exoskeletons to help them cross the Martian surface, although they are unlikely to be as effective as NASA’s rovers.
Eating and drinking on Mars
Water will be crucial to the settlers of Mars and will be used for everything from agriculture to fuel production.
On Mars, liquid water is not readily available, although several studies have shown that ground ice may exist in several places, including the plains of Arcadia Planitia and glacier-filled valleys in Deuteronilus Mensae.
“You won’t need an excavator to dig this ice.” You can use a shovel, “said Sylvain Pique of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
“We continue to collect data on buried ice on Mars, focusing on the best landing sites for astronauts.”
NASA is already conducting several experiments examining the possibility of growing plants on Mars, and says that agriculture on the Red Planet is “quite possible.” Pictured: Matt Damon’s 2015 blockbuster The Martian
Why should astronauts train in space?
Loss of bones and muscles are very real challenges that astronauts face while in a weightless environment such as space.
According to NASA, astronauts need to train approximately 2.5 hours a day in space to mitigate the effects of zero gravity on their bones and muscles.
Because astronauts face unique challenges in orbit, their training looks a little different from what we may have here on Earth.
That’s why NASA has developed specialized machines and equipment for astronauts to use for their daily training.
Source: NASA
While NASA is optimistic that Mars may have water, the more difficult prospect is food.
“We can store enough food for the inhabitants of the International Space Station or even travel to the moon and back,” said Professor Michael Dixon, director of the Research Center for Controlled Environmental Systems at the University of Guelph, in an article for The Conversation.
“But if we want to travel to Mars and maintain long-term research missions, we need bioregenerative, self-sustaining food production systems. Or, simply put, space farms.
NASA …
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