Author Topic: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS  (Read 18646 times)

Offline mr. mark

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Russian and ISS partners are considering putting astronauts on board ISS for up to 18 months simulating a Mars flight.

http://www.universetoday.com/90629/russia-considers-simulated-mars-mission-on-the-space-station/

Offline Rocket Science

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I don't get the point of this... ???
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline mr. mark

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From a health perspective it would present many challenges. Wonder what ideas they would come up with to prevent bone loss, blurred vision? If you think about it, the mission could result in possible research, benefiting bone loss patients here on Earth.

Offline rdale

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I don't get the point of this... ???

Because we've never had someone in space long enough to go to Mars and back. So it makes sense to test that out when they are in Earth orbit and aren't in Martian orbit.

Offline Rocket Science

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These are all known and obvious, we need data from deep space outside the Van Allen Belts and for long duration periods for both human, electronic and mechanical systems…
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline mr. mark

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There's also a negative potential impact as well. If things don't go well from a health perspective, it would most likely mean a delay in HSF Mars plans, possibly a shift back to a lunar base where stays would be much shorter. Technology may have to catch up to Mars based goals.
« Last Edit: 11/03/2011 03:11 pm by mr. mark »

Offline peter-b

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They'd need to put a centrifugal section on the ISS, IMHO. I've discussed this before.

Otherwise, this seems like a really sensible next step from the Mars500 experiment. They've done one test for psychological issues with the mission, and can now do another test to check for microgravity physiological issues as well. I wish them good luck with it.

A possible step after this would be to do the same sort of experiment on a station at EML-1, outside the van Allen belts, in order to test radiation protection technology.
Research Scientist (Sensors), Sharp Laboratories of Europe, UK

Offline peter-b

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Related, in case you haven't seen it yet:



Quote
Dr. Jesco von Puttkamer, Space Operations Mission Directorate, reviews 60 years of manned Mars mission analyses conducted at NASA and in Russia, starting from the historical first study, "The Mars Project," by Dr. Wernher von Braun and colleagues in 1948.
Research Scientist (Sensors), Sharp Laboratories of Europe, UK

Offline rdale

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These are all known and obvious

Well, many people thought they knew what was obvious about space travel in the 50's. Then they learned they didn't know and it wasn't obvious ;)

Maybe you should call the Mars500 people and let them know it's been solved?

Quote
we need data from deep space outside the Van Allen Belts and for long duration periods for both human, electronic and mechanical systems…

I'm not sure how closely you monitor the space program, but we don't have a human presence there. Baby steps.

Offline Jim

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They'd need to put a centrifugal section on the ISS, IMHO. I've discussed this before.



Not viable on the ISS, too big, not enough power and disrupts the rest of the ISS.
« Last Edit: 11/03/2011 03:26 pm by Jim »

Offline mmeijeri

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #10 on: 11/03/2011 03:27 pm »
Perhaps a stupid question, but would partial gravity combined with carrying large weights in your pockets help?
Pro-tip: you don't have to be a jerk if someone doesn't agree with your theories

Offline Rocket Science

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #11 on: 11/03/2011 03:30 pm »
These are all known and obvious

Well, many people thought they knew what was obvious about space travel in the 50's. Then they learned they didn't know and it wasn't obvious ;)

Maybe you should call the Mars500 people and let them know it's been solved?

Quote
we need data from deep space outside the Van Allen Belts and for long duration periods for both human, electronic and mechanical systems…
You are still “obvious” Mr. Dale…

I'm not sure how closely you monitor the space program, but we don't have a human presence there. Baby steps.
"The laws of physics are unforgiving"
~Rob: Physics instructor, Aviator

Offline peter-b

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #12 on: 11/03/2011 03:31 pm »
Not viable on the ISS, too big, not enough power and disrupts the rest of the ISS.

NASA's Technology Applications Assessment Team disagree with you.
Research Scientist (Sensors), Sharp Laboratories of Europe, UK

Offline Jim

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #13 on: 11/03/2011 03:35 pm »
Not viable on the ISS, too big, not enough power and disrupts the rest of the ISS.

NASA's Technology Applications Assessment Team disagree with you.

Wrong. Nothing there disputes my claim.

That is a mechanical demonstrator and not a medical test.  Also, it is still is disruptive.

Offline Jim

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #14 on: 11/03/2011 03:39 pm »
These are all known and obvious

Well, many people thought they knew what was obvious about space travel in the 50's. Then they learned they didn't know and it wasn't obvious ;)

Maybe you should call the Mars500 people and let them know it's been solved?

Quote
we need data from deep space outside the Van Allen Belts and for long duration periods for both human, electronic and mechanical systems…
You are still “obvious” Mr. Dale…

I'm not sure how closely you monitor the space program, but we don't have a human presence there. Baby steps.

Yes, and the baby steps start with zero g effects in LEO and not outside the Van Allen.

Offline spectre9

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #15 on: 11/03/2011 03:43 pm »
We already know what zero g does to the human body.

Another study isn't needed.

Astronauts as guinea pigs rant  ::)

Offline Cherokee43v6

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #16 on: 11/03/2011 03:55 pm »
I don't get the point of this... ???

The longest any single person has lived in a microgravity environment is a little over 400 days.  The empirical data set is miniscule and insufficient to extrapolate that we KNOW what will occur.  Additional research in other areas relates, but honestly, we have absolutely no data past 400 days. 

What actually happens?  Is there a tipping point we should absolutely not go past?  If so, how far or near is it?  What mitigation factors are effective for that length of time?  Which direction is our current, very limited dataset skewed?

We need to know this before we send someone 9 months out only to discover they won't be alive when they get home.
"I didn't open the can of worms...
        ...I just pointed at it and laughed a little too loudly."

Offline hop

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #17 on: 11/03/2011 04:22 pm »
We already know what zero g does to the human body.
Knowing the effects isn't the same as understanding them. Also, the experience over ~6 months is very limited, and predates the countermeasures currently used on ISS.

There is also opportunity to simulate other aspects of the mission.
Quote
Another study isn't needed.
An unjustified assertion.

Offline rdale

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #18 on: 11/03/2011 04:50 pm »
You are still “obvious” Mr. Dale…

I'm sure that made sense to you, but something got lost in translation ;)

It's not a complex process. We do NOT know everything that will happen to a human spending 500 days in space. This provides an opportunity to test that to the best of our existing abilities.

That should make sense to anyone...

Offline Jason1701

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Re: ISS Partners Considering Simulated Mars Mission Aboard ISS
« Reply #19 on: 11/03/2011 05:10 pm »
You are still “obvious” Mr. Dale…

I'm sure that made sense to you, but something got lost in translation ;)

It's not a complex process. We do NOT know everything that will happen to a human spending 500 days in space. This provides an opportunity to test that to the best of our existing abilities.

That should make sense to anyone...

Agreed, I'm just not sure if the ISS is the best place for such a demonstration. I would favor a free-flying BA-330.

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