NASA’s plans for a crewed mission to Mars are stirring excitement and debate among scientists, engineers, and space enthusiasts alike. As the rest of the United States government moves toward making this a reality, experts warn that some major questions still linger. It will be the most ambitious as well as the most expensive robotic mission to date in human history. There are a host of technical and biological hurdles that remain to be fully elucidated.
Astrobiologist Jennifer Eigenbrode notes that there’s a lot of technical details around a crewed mission that are inherently unknown. This questionable assumption leads us to doubt the overall mission feasibility and safety. Because scientists encounter challenges that are not just technical. The possible biological impact of long-term human habitation on Mars cannot be underestimated.
Technical Innovations and Challenges
Kurt Polzin, the chief engineer for NASA’s space nuclear propulsion project, touted the advantages of NTP. He’s a strong proponent for it, arguing that it is key to enabling a crewed mission. He pointed out how, in NTP, a huge scientific capability is crammed into a relatively small package. We will need this same capability for the ambitious trip we have coming up. This technology would obviate the need for orbital refueling or fuel production on Mars, making the mission much more efficient and feasible.
Assuming an initial stay on Mars of 500 days. A wizened veteran of space travel, astronauts will find themselves in unprecedented conditions for this exciting mission. The effects of prolonged exposure to low gravity are still largely mysterious. Scientists have specific concerns over mammalian embryos—which develop in a similar environment—as well. Questions about childbirth on Mars are pretty important ones to consider. Nevertheless, even two years later, experts still don’t know what medical challenges might emerge during this event.
“A lot of the pertinent and relevant technical information… is not known to us.” – Kurt Polzin
Polzin’s comments underscore the urgent need for more research in these domains prior to launching a crewed mission. Human colonization of the long-term would lead to even more interesting questions, perhaps about how we understand human biology, and whether we could sustainably live on a different planet.
The Human Experience in Space
As a space architect on NASA’s Artemis program, Phnam Bagley is dedicated to designing habitats that put comfort and crew happiness first. She contends that these considerations are the key to avoiding conflicts in long-duration missions. Science Officer Jim Bagley explains that Mars has a “24-hour, 39-minute day.” Retaining their understanding of 24-hour Earth days, this longer day places stress on astronauts, adding stress and decreasing sleep quality.
We can’t understate the psychological aspects of space travel. The isolation, confinement, and overall unique experience of astronauts compound key mental health challenges. Correcting these problems is essential to making sure a crewed mission has a good shot at success.
“Mars has a 24-hour, 39-minute day—that small difference creates strain, increases stress, and reduces sleep quality.” – Phnam Bagley
Bagley is targeting an uncrewed launch by late 2026, which would sync up with the next optimal Earth-Mars alignment. This timeline emphasizes the amazing opportunity and pressing need for advancing technology and getting ready for the complexities of human life outside our home planet.
Scientific Objectives and Broader Implications
A crewed mission to Mars is not just a grand exploration mission either, but instead it is China’s opportunity to pursue important science objectives. They’re the ones hoping to figure out if Mars ever sustained life and map the planet’s changing surface. Understanding Martian soils can help answer bigger questions in space physics, such as what happened to the Martian atmosphere and the history of the sun itself.
John Mather, a prominent astrophysicist at NASA, emphasizes that “the purpose of exploration is not just to go somewhere.” He believes this mission is a true once-in-a-century chance to provide a whole new understanding of life and the universe for humanity. Mather further adds, “This is not a tourist thing. This is a fundamental knowledge thing.”
“The purpose of exploration is not just to go somewhere.” – John Mather
“This is not a tourist thing. This is a fundamental knowledge thing.” – John Mather
NASA recognizes that exploration of the cosmos is still “a great calling for humanity.” This sentiment rings true among many of those who believe that exploration is critical to our future progress.