Solar radiation on Mars is so intense that it could endanger
astronauts, according to NASA. This radiation also means
that, despite the presence of water, it's unlikely any life
could survive there. The high radiation levels were measured
by the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. Cary Zeitlin of the National
Space Biomedical Research Institute, says, "[Mars life] would
have to be pretty robust against all kinds of environmental
horrors."
This news comes at a time when scientists had new hope for
finding life on Mars, since most of them are now convinced
the planet has water. Near the planet's north pole, frozen
water makes up as much as 75% of the top 3 feet of soil,
according to researcher William Boynton, who says, "We're
talking ice with a little bit of dirt mixed in it and not the other
way around."
NASA once thought astronauts could use that ice for drinking
water, fuel and oxygen, but the new radiation findings
suggest that would be risky. Now Mars exploration may be
limited to robots. Mars is continuously bombarded by radiation
from the galaxy, as well as by periodic bursts from the sun.
On Earth, our magnetic field and atmosphere protect us
during the sun?s radiation blasts. Mars radiation would expose
astronauts who were in orbit, and not even actually on the
planet, to a dose 2.5 times greater than they get aboard the
international space station. A three-year Mars mission would
expose astronauts to the upper limit of radiation that's
considered safe by NASA, so afterwards, they'd have to quit
exploring space and take desk jobs. Researcher Jeffrey Plaut
says, "It still remains to be seen what the hazards are on the
surface."
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