Eventually, humans will most likely journey to Mars. Getting astronauts to the
Martian surface and returning them safely to Earth, however, is an extremely difficult engineering challenge.
A thorough understanding of the Martian environment is critical to the safe operation of equipment and to human health, so the Mars Exploration Program will begin to look at these challenges in the coming decade.
Astronaut Safety in the Hostile Martian Environment
The safety of astronauts is of paramount importance to NASA. Mars lacks an ozone layer, which on Earth
shields us from lethal doses of solar ultraviolet radiation. We do not have good information about the
amount of ultraviolet radiation that reaches the Martian surface.
A more detailed understanding of the
radiation environment will provide the information necessary to assess the effects of UV radiation on
astronauts, as well as help engineers design protective space suits and habitats.
We do know that the Martian soil contains "superoxides." In the presence of ultraviolet
radiation, superoxides break down organic molecules. While superoxides' effect on astronauts is
probably not serious, their impact and that of any other unique chemical aspects of the Martian soil
must be assessed before human exploration of Mars can begin.
Robotic Spacecraft Will Pave the Way for Human Exploration of Mars
To pave the way for human exploration, 2001 Mars
Odyssey will begin to analyze the radiation environment on Mars. This mission and the
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will continue to search
for water resources that, if discovered, could be used to support future human explorers. Eventually, robotic spacecraft, rovers, and drills could be used to access water resources in advance of, and during, human exploration.
Advanced
entry, descent and landing techniques that reduce the G-forces on landers will also be developed for
spacecraft and astronaut safety.
While robotic exploration will pave the way for the long-term possibility of human missions to
Mars, much of the necessary scientific and technological work for this goal is carried out by NASA's
Johnson Space Center. For more information about eventual human missions to the Red Planet, visit
NASA's Human Spaceflight Web section on Mars
Exploration and Beyond.