The mission to one day send astronauts to explore Mars might be in full swing but it will take several more years before they actually get there.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) chief scientist Ellen Stofan yesterday told pupils at a Scifest Africa outreach that although their Mars Curiosity rover had been exploring the red planet since 2012, a mountain of tests still had to be done before they could land and accommodate astronauts there.
According to Stofan, getting astronauts safely to Mars and back was Nasa’s primary target as the planet once had “liquid water, rivers and oceans” similar to earth – billions of years ago.
Although Curiosity was extensively exploring Mars, the long-term aim was to send teams of scientists there one day to look for signs of life like microscopic fossils.
“We have spacecraft on Mars studying everything to make sure we can send people there safely.”
A major challenge was working out how to safely land heavy spacecraft and equipment the team will need to survive in the hostile terrain.
“The atmosphere is thin and you have to slow down from 1000 miles an hour to zero in seven minutes.”
Unlike Curiosity, which weighed one metric ton, the equipment for a team of astronauts to land and survive there for any length of time would be 40 tons.
Stofan explained all 12 of the world’s space agencies were working together to develop a global exploration road map and touching down on Mars would take about 20 years.
“You guys are the perfect age to go there as astronauts,” she told dozens of excited PJ Olivier pupils yesterday.
She, however, said they would send astronauts to a space “proving ground” by 2020 to prepare them and test technology for the Mars mission.
All sorts of tests were already being conducted at the International Space Station (ISS) including using 3D printers to manufacture spare parts that would be needed if anything broke.
“You cannot take a full load of spare parts on a space ship.”
Some of the “printed” spares have already been sent back to earth to see if they are reliable.
Having enough water to survive for a long time in space was also a key factor and although 85% of all astronauts’ urine was already recycled for drinking, Stofan said they needed to get to 90%.
Because there was zero gravity in space, the human immune system did not work as well as on earth and problems included vision problems, loss of bone density and muscles wasting away.
Although astronauts and scientists only spent six months at the ISS before returning to earth, getting to Mars would take eight months – one way.
“The challenge is how to keep the astronauts healthy,” Stofan explained.
Exercising two hours a day was a key.
To analyse the long-term impact, a Russian and American astronaut had volunteered to spend a year at the ISS to observe the longer term impacts.
Stofan is part of a top-flight Nasa team wooing visitors to Scifest Africa.
The team includes astronaut Cady Coleman who has been on many space missions. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Mars mission in 20 years, says scientist
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) chief scientist Ellen Stofan yesterday told pupils at a Scifest Africa outreach that although their Mars Curiosity rover had been exploring the red planet since 2012, a mountain of tests still had to be done before they could land and accommodate astronauts there.
According to Stofan, getting astronauts safely to Mars and back was Nasa’s primary target as the planet once had “liquid water, rivers and oceans” similar to earth – billions of years ago.
Although Curiosity was extensively exploring Mars, the long-term aim was to send teams of scientists there one day to look for signs of life like microscopic fossils.
“We have spacecraft on Mars studying everything to make sure we can send people there safely.”
A major challenge was working out how to safely land heavy spacecraft and equipment the team will need to survive in the hostile terrain.
“The atmosphere is thin and you have to slow down from 1000 miles an hour to zero in seven minutes.”
Unlike Curiosity, which weighed one metric ton, the equipment for a team of astronauts to land and survive there for any length of time would be 40 tons.
Stofan explained all 12 of the world’s space agencies were working together to develop a global exploration road map and touching down on Mars would take about 20 years.
“You guys are the perfect age to go there as astronauts,” she told dozens of excited PJ Olivier pupils yesterday.
She, however, said they would send astronauts to a space “proving ground” by 2020 to prepare them and test technology for the Mars mission.
All sorts of tests were already being conducted at the International Space Station (ISS) including using 3D printers to manufacture spare parts that would be needed if anything broke.
“You cannot take a full load of spare parts on a space ship.”
Some of the “printed” spares have already been sent back to earth to see if they are reliable.
Having enough water to survive for a long time in space was also a key factor and although 85% of all astronauts’ urine was already recycled for drinking, Stofan said they needed to get to 90%.
Because there was zero gravity in space, the human immune system did not work as well as on earth and problems included vision problems, loss of bone density and muscles wasting away.
Although astronauts and scientists only spent six months at the ISS before returning to earth, getting to Mars would take eight months – one way.
“The challenge is how to keep the astronauts healthy,” Stofan explained.
Exercising two hours a day was a key.
To analyse the long-term impact, a Russian and American astronaut had volunteered to spend a year at the ISS to observe the longer term impacts.
Stofan is part of a top-flight Nasa team wooing visitors to Scifest Africa.
The team includes astronaut Cady Coleman who has been on many space missions. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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