Mars Case

Although traveling to Mars may sound intriguing, it has many health risks to consider, and some risks can be fatal. To start off, being weightless for the entire journey would likely weaken the astronaut's muscles, bones, and the heart. Without rigorous exercises, an astronaut would have heart problems and broken bones because his or her body would become too weak for Earth and its gravitation. Also, large amount of radiation exposure occurs outside the Earth's atmosphere. Eventually, every cell of the astronaut's body would be transversed by the radiation, and that will immediately lead to cancer. Engines that are currently used for space flights, do not carry enough fuel for the spacecraft to turn around and return to Earth if there was a medical emergency. It takes approximately three years to make a round trip to Mars, that is a very long time to be in pain. Space is filled with meteors that travel to rapid speeds, which could go right through the spaceships. A meteor is a size of a grain of rice, but it is very deadly. Additionally, astronauts will need food to survive, so they carry three years' worth of food in their spaceship. It very difficult to formulate many type of food that would last three years, that is millions of pounds of food sinking the spaceship in weight even more. It takes a lot of time and money to create special types of food, which adds onto the fund for the ship. Another money-consuming object is the space suits. Not only is it expansive, but it is incredibly difficult to move and do tasks in. Although scientists are currently trying to create a light-weighted, flexible space suit, the reality of it is questionable.

Beside the physical predicaments, there are psychological problems which are harder to solve with technology. Astronauts would be confined in the spacecraft for most of the mission. About six people will be living in a cramped area for three years; no matter how close they are as friends, they will grow sick of each other. Lastly, scientists have discovered evidence that water may have existed on Mars, and but the amount of it is still unknown. The availability of water is crucial because it provides the basic elements people need to remain on the planet for an extended period. Many astronauts break up the H2O molecule and use the oxygen to breath and the hydrogen for fuel. While going to Mars would offer an opportunity of a lifetime, going through with such mission too high of a risk for the people who would make such a journey. As research continues, the dream of a trip to Mars will inevitably become a reality, but the safest thing in the 'world' is to stay in the world.