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The mysteries of the solar system are still far from being fully understood, as scientists face many challenges in space that prevent many discoveries.
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And for decades, since humans landed on the moon, the next target has been Mars. While humans have yet to land on the red planet, NASA managed to successfully land its latest robotic spacecraft, “Perseverance” on Mars after a 300-mile journey.
The landing, which made the probe the ninth spacecraft to land on Mars, marks the beginning of a major search for signs of past life on this planet.
Here’s what you need to know about the distance to Mars and why we haven’t reached the red planet yet.
How long does it take to get to Mars?
Despite NASA’s ongoing efforts, sending humans to the Red Planet seemed like a distant goal, until recently.
According to the US space agency, we can now expect humans to land on Mars in the next two decades.
Reaching the planet would be an achievement in itself, since Mars is between 376 and 402 million kilometers from Earth, depending on the rotation of the planets around the sun.
On average, the distance between Earth and Mars is 140 million miles (225 million kilometers), according to NASA.
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If it were to get to Mars based on the current speeds of spacecraft, it would take about nine months, according to the website for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
An unmanned spacecraft traveling to Mars will take between 128 and 333 days to reach the red planet.
According to physics professor Craig Patten of the University of California, San Diego, the flight could be shortened by burning more fuel, but that would not be advisable.
Currently, the space agency is following a five-step plan to send astronauts there, but the likely result will be a trip of at least three years to and from the planet.
What other challenges does an astronaut landing on Mars face?
The health of astronauts heading to Mars is a great challenge for scientists and researchers for several reasons.
The number one reason, according to Dorit Donoville, director of the Interim Research Institute for Space Health, is the length of the flight.
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And since astronauts will stay away for about three years, this means that any health problems that arise outside of Earth must be addressed, making even the smallest illnesses a cause for concern.
“Having simple stones in space, for example, can be life threatening. In addition to those regular fears that can occur on that mission, we will have an environment that is extremely hostile to space and the environment of the vehicle. Therefore We’re going to have to deal with situations that they have to be in, “Donoville said. Provide your own health care. “
Researchers must also study the psychological effects of flight, which would see astronauts confined to small spaces for long periods of time.
Once humans arrive on the planet, they will still be confined to spacesuits, as temperatures on Mars are extreme and can vary 170 degrees per day.
In addition to the average sub-zero temperature, the planet’s air is also largely made up of carbon dioxide.
Source: The Independent
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