Astronauts would face dangers both getting to and surviving (生存) on Mars. Let's learn about surviving a trip to Mars.
What would it take to keep people safe and healthy on a trip to Mars? Scientists are already working on it though the trip may be many years later.
Over the last 60 years, many spacecraft (航天器) have flown by, orbited (沿轨道运行) and even landed on the Red Planet. However, humans could work faster and smarter than machines. That's why the United States, China and other countries want to send people to Mars. But surviving this trip would not be easy.
A trip to Mars would be the farthest journey in human history. Mars is about 225 million kilometers away, so it would take astronauts at least six months to reach there. However, it only takes a few days to get to the moon.
While space travel is never free of danger, it takes a lot more health risks to travel in space for a long time. For one thing, staying in space for long periods makes the human body weak. Also, it puts pressure behind the eyes and causes eye problems. But gravity (重力) machines could help.
Then there's space radiation (辐射) to worry about. It might raise the risk of health problems. especially for astronauts who will have long journeys. Scientists are working out the problems. They have found taking certain vitamins (维生素) can help.
Astronauts will have to pack light to lift off from Earth. But they won't be able to get things they need like astronauts on the space station do. Astronauts on the space station practice for this by growing lettuce and other food in space. Engineers are developing 3-D printing techniques which could allow future Mars astronauts to build tools as needed.
