this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2024
1 points (100.0% liked)
Futurology
1673 readers
20 users here now
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
That is primarily an issue with the lack of gravity's effect on the human body. It is hard to get enough exercise to maintain strength in muscles, maintaining bone density, and other bodily functions so that the astronaut can have a regular life back on Earth.
Mars has enough gravity that bodily atrophy should not be a significant issue for people that return, and it shouldn't be an issue at all for people who stay on Mars.
There are a ton of other massive hurdles on Mars, but they are not related to the cautionary limitation on individual's trips to the ISS.
That's actually totally unknown. I could be, or it could be that you need almost a full G to stay healthy.
I'm disappointed that the ISS never got a rotating torus module. Maybe Lunar Gateway or one of the upcoming commercial stations will get one.
That type of concept feels like it needs to be its own thing and not a module on a larger station. The added rotational inertia and potential for vibration seem like pretty high risk factors for anything connected that wasn't designed for it.
I hope starship can make a rotating station viable though.