Biological Risks and its Implications for Crewed Interplanetary Missions
Abstract
In this paper, we have emphasized the major space challenges such as microgravity, space radiation and temperature, vacuum environment, biowastes, habitat and life support system, improper sleep patterns, food preservation, psychological issues and nuclear hazards. In addition to this, we have discussed the biological risks associated with these challenges along with its countermeasures. Our analysis is based on the study and perspective of a crewed mission to Moon, Mars and beyond. Further, the bio-risks highlighted here are the effect of osteoporosis, abnormal vision, orthostatic hypo or hypertension, fluid distribution, changes in brain positions due to microgravity; prolonged cancer, sterility, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, acute radiation syndrome due to radiation; bubble formation and physical damage due to vacuum environment; the effect of hypothermia and frost formation due to low space temperature; oxygen and breathing-related issues due to challenging habitation; damage of circadian rhythm, sleep deprivation and metabolic disorder due to improper illumination and sleep patterns; food poisoning, growth of fresh fruits and vegetables and their impact on psychological health; and the effect of nuclear radiation in case of nuclear propulsion systems. Furthermore, the study shows effective countermeasures as artificial gravity and regular exercise for microgravity, fabrication of materials using polyethylene and hydrides to shield from radiation, proper disposal procedure using anaerobic digester for bio-wastes, a light sensor to induce sleep thereby generating illumination environment, and growth of fresh fruits and vegetables aboard space vehicle to improve psychological health issues.
- Publication:
-
LPI Contributions
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021LPICo2103P...8B
- Keywords:
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- Space Biology;
- Interplanetary Missions;
- Biological Risks;
- Hazards;
- Challenges