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Dangerous radiation exists outside the Earth’s magnetic field. That could make long trips to Mars more difficult, a new study shows.
LONDON — A trip to space is tough on the human body — and not just because of the violent rocket launch. Weightlessness in space affects people, as does radiation in space. Decreased bone density, bone loss, heart and vision impairment have been found in astronauts after spaceflight, as has the development of kidney stones.
Research suggests that many of these problems caused by space travel arise from exposure of people to space radiation in space. For example, it refers to the solar wind or galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) from deep space—both of which Earth’s magnetic field shields people on the planet from. For example, anyone above 400 kilometers on the International Space Station, ISS, is mostly outside the magnetic field and at the mercy of the solar wind.
People are exposed to space radiation on their way to Mars
In the 1960s and 1970s, all 24 humans who left low Earth orbit to go to the Moon were affected by galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). However, they only stayed in an area not protected from radiation for several days. This will be different for future missions to Mars: the round trip to the Red Planet will take months, and the research will stay on Mars. What happens to the human body when exposed to interstellar cosmic radiation for so long?
A research team from University College London (UCL) addressed this question, applying it specifically to the kidney. Analysis of human and animal kidneys in space has shown that the kidneys are “remodeled” by the conditions in space, with some renal tubules that fine-tune their calcium and salt balance after less than a month. The space showed signs of shrinking.
Why do problems like kidney stones occur in space?
Keith Siew, head of the study, said: In a special issue Natural communication Published Emphasized: “We know what has happened to astronauts on relatively short space missions so far, namely an increase in health problems such as kidney stones. We don’t know why these problems occur and what will happen to astronauts on long flights like the planned Mars mission.
To find out, the study exposed mice to simulated interstellar cosmic rays corresponding to a 1.5- and 2.5-year trip to Mars. The fatal result: The kidneys of mice that received radiation for 2.5 years were permanently damaged and no longer functioned.
Dangerous trip to Mars: Kidney failure on long journey
Xu was firm: “If we don’t develop new methods to protect the kidney, I would say that an astronaut can go to Mars but need dialysis on the way back.” “We know that the kidneys only show signs of radiation damage late; by the time it is exposed, it will be too late to prevent failure, which would be disastrous for the chances of mission success.”
Radiation in space
A year on the International Space Station (400 km altitude) exposes astronauts to radiation levels 50 percent higher than the five-year limit for nuclear workers.
A private space probe called “Inspiration4” flew 200 kilometers above the ISS. In just three days, the crew received the same amount of radiation they received during their nine-month stay on the ISS.
In a year on the surface of Mars, a person would be as exposed to radiation as an eyewitness to the Hiroshima atomic bomb. A three-year trip to Mars would mean six times the radiation.
Saving kidneys for missions to Mars also helps people on Earth
A research group asserts that Notice However, now that you’ve identified the problem, you can look for a solution. Associate Editor Stephen B. Walsh said: “Our study underlines the important role that kidneys play when planning space travel. You can’t protect them from interstellar radiation with shields, but if we learn more about the biology of the kidneys, we can develop technological or pharmaceutical measures to facilitate long space missions.”
This, in turn, could benefit people back on Earth, says Walsh: “Drugs developed for astronauts can be used here on Earth, for example, by making the kidneys of cancer patients work at higher doses. Radiation therapy, because the kidneys are one of the limiting factors in this case. (tab)
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