A new research paper published by leading researchers worldwide declares Mars unsafe for long-term human stays. According to the study, staying on the Red Planet for more than four years would exceed safe radiation exposure limits for humans. These radiation hazards include particle radiation from the Sun, distant stars, and galaxies. Humans, typically shielded from such radiation by Earth’s magnetosphere, will lack this protection on Mars.
Researchers note that a Mars mission lasting longer than four years would be particularly exposed to dangerous high levels of radiation from extraterrestrial sources. These findings are based on combined studies from prestigious institutions such as UCLA, MIT, Moscow’s Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, and GFZ Potsdam.
Interestingly, the solar maximum, a period of maximum activity of the Sun, could protect Mars astronauts from the worst radiation. Ideally, a Mars mission should be launched during a solar maximum.
The study argues that a manned Mars mission is still feasible despite weight and launch time constraints of spacecraft, but it necessitates adhering to a four-year safety limit to protect Mars explorers from the natural hazards of space radiation.
As China announces its goal to send the first humans to Mars in the 2030s, and SpaceX’s Starship is ready for Mars missions, this new research will help space agencies define a precise timeframe for Mars missions.
Although Mars has been declared unsafe for stays longer than four years, these new findings do not spell the end of Mars exploration. Instead, they provide a roadmap for planning and executing missions safely within a four-year limit.
