Doesn't look like we will be going to Mars anytime soon ...

Mr Quatro · 06-21-17, 01:24 PM

My bubble is broken ... no humans on Mars till we conquer cancer

http://www.businessinsider.com/scien...issions-2017-6

Quote:

Scientists have long known high levels of radiation exists on Mars. But could it be so high that humans won't be able to handle when we get there?

Going to Mars may be more dangerous than we thought. The major problem is high-energy space radiation. Scientists know that cosmic rays can damage DNA. They had just overlooked how bad it could get.

A team re-examined how damaged DNA can cause cancer. They then estimated levels of radiation exposure in space and on Mars. Their results are devastating.

The risk of cancer on Mars is twice as high as previously thought.

August · 06-21-17, 01:46 PM

Cancer is not the only downside to radiation exposure.

Gargamel · 06-21-17, 03:06 PM

The risk of car crashes while driving in the snow is nearly twice as high, yet we still drive in winter.

Relative values are relative. Fodder for sensationalism in the media.

That video is so filled with generalities and over simplifications, it's no more than an ad, not even close to a science report.

ikalugin · 06-21-17, 06:49 PM

I would add that shielding is not all that hard to do.

Mr Quatro · 06-21-17, 10:45 PM

I know your going to have fun with this one:
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/06/...d-on-mars.html

MARS
Strange 'stone circle' spotted on Mars

Catfish · 06-22-17, 01:39 AM

I agree it would be a pity if we were not going to Mars, but i think we will, and soon. The technology is there, and Mr. Musk is afaik very determined to win the "race", among Google and Nasa (and the chinese?) https://www.space.com/37200-read-elo...lony-plan.html

Intensive radiation is present everywhere in space around any sun including ours, the journey to the moon and the voyage there had already to deal with the sun's radiation, and shielding it. There is also cosmic background radiation present, that has to be dealt with.
As long as man does not walk around on Mars (lacking a dense-enough atmosphere to shield the sun's radiation) exposing his skin without a special suit he will be in trouble, but as long as conditions are as they are now (without oxygen etc.) he will need a suit anyway, and shielding. Should not hold us back though.
A temporary or lasting station on Mars will also have shielding, or you could just build the first outpost beneath the surface. Bringing excavators to Mars will be a bit costly though at first

Regarding the Fox article (but you can also find it in other media) those circles are not uncommon, from tiny craters to bigger stones that have given in to the sun's radiation bombardment, and became powder over millions of years. The moon having no atmosphere at all is covered with dust and decayed stone called "regolith". The rests of a bigger stone could exactly look like this circle of its outline, resisting a bit longer than the rest.

If we find life on Mars at all, it will be tiny and most probably extinct. I'd like to see UFOs or aliens, but space is so gigantic and we are so insignificant.. why should "they" be here just of all?

vienna · 06-22-17, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Quatro

I know your going to have fun with this one:
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/06/...d-on-mars.html

MARS
Strange 'stone circle' spotted on Mars

Oh, damn!! They found it! I knew I should have hidden it better; this is not going to look at all good on my quarterly Galactic Performance Review...

...I just hope the don't find the big stone ring in Wiltshire, England we left behind...

<O>

Platapus · 06-22-17, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikalugin

I would add that shielding is not all that hard to do.

But it is heavy and heavy has a cost even in space.

ikalugin · 06-22-17, 03:39 PM

In space sure, but then moon landings happened, didnt they?

With good spacecraft you should be able to travel to Mars within the compatable timeline to lunar missions and then enjoy the benefits of the local shielding (ie by building the manned base areas under the protection of soil).

06-21-17, 01:46 PM	#2
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,244 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Cancer is not the only downside to radiation exposure. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

06-21-17, 03:06 PM	#3
Gargamel Lucky Sailor Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Rome Posts: 4,273 Downloads: 81 Uploads: 0	The risk of car crashes while driving in the snow is nearly twice as high, yet we still drive in winter. Relative values are relative. Fodder for sensationalism in the media. That video is so filled with generalities and over simplifications, it's no more than an ad, not even close to a science report. __________________ Luck is a residue of Design.

06-21-17, 06:49 PM	#4
ikalugin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 3,212 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	I would add that shielding is not all that hard to do. __________________ Grumpy as always.

06-21-17, 10:45 PM	#5
Mr Quatro Navy Seal Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 6,772 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I know your going to have fun with this one: http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/06/...d-on-mars.html MARS Strange 'stone circle' spotted on Mars __________________ pla•teau noun a relatively stable level, period, or condition a level of attainment or achievement Lord help me get to the next plateau ..

06-22-17, 01:39 AM	#6
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,817 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	I agree it would be a pity if we were not going to Mars, but i think we will, and soon. The technology is there, and Mr. Musk is afaik very determined to win the "race", among Google and Nasa (and the chinese?) https://www.space.com/37200-read-elo...lony-plan.html Intensive radiation is present everywhere in space around any sun including ours, the journey to the moon and the voyage there had already to deal with the sun's radiation, and shielding it. There is also cosmic background radiation present, that has to be dealt with. As long as man does not walk around on Mars (lacking a dense-enough atmosphere to shield the sun's radiation) exposing his skin without a special suit he will be in trouble, but as long as conditions are as they are now (without oxygen etc.) he will need a suit anyway, and shielding. Should not hold us back though. A temporary or lasting station on Mars will also have shielding, or you could just build the first outpost beneath the surface. Bringing excavators to Mars will be a bit costly though at first Regarding the Fox article (but you can also find it in other media) those circles are not uncommon, from tiny craters to bigger stones that have given in to the sun's radiation bombardment, and became powder over millions of years. The moon having no atmosphere at all is covered with dust and decayed stone called "regolith". The rests of a bigger stone could exactly look like this circle of its outline, resisting a bit longer than the rest. If we find life on Mars at all, it will be tiny and most probably extinct. I'd like to see UFOs or aliens, but space is so gigantic and we are so insignificant.. why should "they" be here just of all? __________________ >^..^<)))>{ All generalizations are wrong. Last edited by Catfish; 06-22-17 at 01:56 AM.*

06-22-17, 03:39 PM	#9
ikalugin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 3,212 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	In space sure, but then moon landings happened, didnt they? With good spacecraft you should be able to travel to Mars within the compatable timeline to lunar missions and then enjoy the benefits of the local shielding (ie by building the manned base areas under the protection of soil). __________________ Grumpy as always.