Expeditions to Mars. The first expedition to Mars

Space always beckoned humanity, people sought to conquer the star tops and find out what the heavenly abyss conceals. There were first steps on the Moon, which proclaimed the great progress of the whole world. Each country seeks to make a particularly meaningful discovery, which will necessarily grieve in history. However, the level of scientific achievements and modern technical equipment does not allow conquering distant and mysterious celestial bodies. How many times in the theory of expeditions to Mars, the implementation of which in practice at present is very difficult. But scientists believe that in the next decade a man's foot will set foot on the red planet. And who knows what surprises await us there. The hope of having extraterrestrial life excites many minds.

A manned expedition to Mars will someday take place. And today even the approximate terms established by scientists are known.

Perspective of flight

Today the expedition to Mars is planned for 2017, but it is not known whether this will happen or not. This date is due to the fact that it is at this time that the Earth's orbit will be as close as possible to the orbit of Mars. The flight will take two or even two and a half years. The ship will have a mass of about 500 tons, it is this volume that is required that cosmonauts feel at a minimum comfortable.

The main creators of the "Mission to Mars" program are the United States and Russia. It was these powers that made significant discoveries in the field of conquest of outer space. The concept of development covers activities until 2040.

All interested persons would like to send the first astronauts to the distant planet in 2017, but in reality these plans are difficult to implement. It is very difficult to create a single huge flying machine, so it was decided to work in complexes. They will be delivered by carrier rockets in parts to the orbit of the planet. In this case, it is calculated to create a fully automated process in order to minimize the energy expenditure of the astronauts. This will gradually create the necessary infrastructure in space.

For about half a century, a manned expedition is planned. "Mars" - the lost station of the USSR in 1988, which for the first time transmitted to the ground photos of the surface of red soil and one of the satellites of the planet. Since then, various countries have launched interplanetary stations to study Mars.

Problems with the Martian Expedition

Expedition to Mars will take a long time. To date, humanity has the experience of a long stay in space. Valery Polyakov is a doctor who spent a year and six months on Earth's orbit. With the correct calculations, this time may be enough to reach Mars. It is very likely that it can increase by about half a year. The big problem is that astronauts will have to start reconnaissance immediately after landing on an outsider planet. They will not have the opportunity for adaptation and habituation.

Complex conditions for the flight

To fly to Mars, absolutely new technologies are required. A number of important conditions must be observed. Only in this case, the probability that the first expedition to Mars will be successfully carried out is maximized as much as possible. It is necessary to take into account a number of factors when developing a project to conquer the Martian space. One of the most basic is life support for the crew. It will be implemented if you create a closed loop. To the orbit, the necessary reserves of water and food are supplied with the support of special ships. In the case of Mars, the passengers of the spacecraft will need to rely only on personal strength. Scientists create methods for regenerating water and obtaining oxygen using the electrolysis method.

Another important factor is radiation. This is a serious problem for a person. Various researches are capable to give answers to the questions connected with influence of electromagnetic energy on an organism as a whole. Such an effect is likely to lead to cataracts, changes in the genetic make-up of cells and the rapid growth of cancer cells. The developed medical preparations can not completely protect people from the harmful effects of radiation. Therefore, you need to think about the creation of some kind of shelter.

Weightlessness

Weightlessness is also an important problem. The absence of gravity leads to changes in the body. It is especially problematic to deal with the arising illusion, which leads to the appearance of an incorrect perception of distance. There is also a serious hormonal reorganization, fraught with unpleasant consequences. The problem is that there is a strong loss of calcium. Bone tissue is destroyed and muscle atrophy is provoked. Doctors are very concerned about all these unfavorable influences of weightlessness. Usually, after returning to Earth, the crew of the space crew is actively restoring the depleted reserves of mineral substances in the body. It takes about a year or more. To reduce the adverse effects of the absence of gravity, special short-radius centrifuges have been developed. Experimental work with them is conducted today, since it is difficult for scientists to determine how much such a centrifuge should work to create favorable conditions for astronauts.

All this is difficult not only from the scientific and technical point of view, but also is incredibly expensive.

Medical problems

Medicine requires special attention. It is necessary to create such conditions that, if necessary, during an expedition to Mars, a simple surgical operation could be carried out. There is a high probability that an unknown virus or microbe lives on the red planet, which can destroy the entire crew in a matter of hours. On board, medical specialists of several specializations must be present. Very good therapists, psychologists and surgeons. It will be necessary to periodically take analyzes from crew members, monitor the condition of the whole organism. This moment requires the presence on board of the necessary medical equipment.

Failures of the sensation of the day will lead to an inappropriate metabolism and the appearance of insomnia. This will need to be monitored and eliminated as much as possible by taking special medications. Work daily will be conducted in very difficult and extreme technological conditions. Fleeting weakness inevitably leads to serious mistakes.

Psychological loads

The psychological burden on the entire crew of the ship will be enormous. The probability that for astronauts a flight to Mars may be the last expedition will inevitably lead to fears, depression, feelings of hopelessness and depressive states. And that is not all. Under the negative psychological press during the expedition to Mars, people will inevitably begin to enter into conflict situations, which can provoke irreparable consequences. Therefore, selection for shuttles is always very, very carefully. Future cosmonauts undergo a lot of psychological tests, revealing their weak and strong points. It is important to create the illusion of the customary world on the ship. For example, think about the change of the year, the presence of vegetation and even imitation of birds' voices. This will make it easier to stay on someone else's planet and mitigate stressful situations.

Crew selection

Question number one: "Who will fly to a distant planet?" The space community sensibly understands that such a jerk should produce a crew of international purpose. It is not possible to assign all responsibility to one country. In order to avoid the failure of the expedition to Mars, it is necessary to think over every technical and psychological moment. The crew should include real experts in many areas who will provide the necessary assistance in emergency situations and can easily adapt in the new environment.

Mars is a distant dream of many astronauts. But not everyone strives to nominate their candidacy for this flight. Because such a journey is very dangerous, conceals many mysteries and can be the last. Although there are desperate brave souls who crave for their names to fall into the cherished lists of participants in the "Expedition to Mars" program. Volunteers are already applying. They are not stopped even by gloomy forecasts. Scientists openly warn that for astronauts it is - quite possibly - the last expedition. On Mars, modern technology will be able to deliver a spacecraft, but whether it will be possible to start from the planet - is unknown.

Machismo

All scholars are unanimous in the opinion that women must be removed from the first expedition. In favor of this are the following arguments:

• The female organism is not well studied in the space zone, it is not known how in the conditions of long-term weightlessness will behave its complex hormonal system,
• Physically a lady is less hardy than a man,
• Numerous tests and scientific studies confirm that the woman's psychology by nature is less adapted to extreme situations, they are more susceptible to depression in a state of hopelessness.

Why fly to this planet?

All scientists unanimously declare that this planet is very similar to our Earth. It is believed that once on its surface there were the same rivers and grew plants with trees. To establish the reasons why life on Mars has ended, it is necessary to conduct research activities. This is a complex study of soil and air. Mars rovers have already sampled many times, and these data have been studied in detail. However, the material is very small, so the overall picture was not compiled. It was only established that under certain conditions it is possible to live on the Red planet.

It is believed that if there is a possibility of organizing a colony on Mars, then this must be used. Living on our plan is potentially risky. For example, when a huge meteorite enters the Earth's atmosphere, the entire life will be completely destroyed. But when mastering the Martian space, one can hope for the salvation of a part of the human race.

In modern conditions of overpopulation of our planet, the exploration of Mars will help to overcome the demographic crisis.

Many political leaders are interested in what is hidden in the depths of the Red Planet. After all, natural resources end, which means that new sources would be very welcome.

Studying stars that are farther from Earth, but closer to Mars, the desire to look further into the mysterious depths of space is another reason for striving to conquer the Red Planet.

In perspective, Mars can be used as a testing ground (for example, atomic explosions), which are very dangerous for the Earth.

The similarity and differences of the blue and red planets

Mars is much like the Earth. For example, his day is only 40 minutes longer than terrestrial. On Mars, the seasons also change, there is a similar to our atmosphere, which protects the planet from cosmic and solar radiation. NASA studies confirmed that there is water on Mars. The Martian soil is similar in its parameters to the terrestrial one. On Mars there are places, the landscape and natural conditions of which are similar to those on the earth.

Naturally, the differences between the planets are much larger, and they are incomparably more significant. A brief list of differences - 2 times less gravity, low air temperature, insufficient solar energy, low atmospheric pressure and a weak magnetic field, high level of radiation - indicates that life on Mars habitual for humans is not yet possible.