The Journey to Mars
Lesson Express
Q: What are some of the main challenges astronauts would face during a mission to Mars?
A: Some of the main challenges include radiation exposure from the Sun, muscle and bone deterioration due to weightlessness, and psychological effects from being in isolation and confined with crew members for an extended period.
Q: Why is the journey to Mars expected to take one to three years?
A: The journey between Earth and Mars takes six to nine months each way. The alignment to return occurs every 18 months, requiring astronauts to stay on Mars for about 18 months before they can return to Earth.
Q: What are some possible solutions being explored to address the challenges of long-term space travel to Mars?
A: Solutions being explored include advanced spacesuits to protect astronauts from radiation, artificial gravity to combat the effects of weightlessness, and psychological support systems to help astronauts cope with isolation.
More Like This
In Tied to a Star: The Fate of Mars, Professor Brian Cox explains how Mars went from being full of water to a barren desert. Learn why the Sun is so important for the planets that orbit it, including Mars and Earth. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Planets, a series that explores the dramatic lives of the eight planets in our Solar System.
In Getting Started: Life on Earth and Mars, Professor Brian Cox explains the conditions that are required for life to begin. Learn how Earth and Mars had these conditions at the same time. Could life have started in two places at once? Or might the life on Earth have come from outer space? This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Planets, a series that explores the dramatic lives of the eight planets in our Solar System.
In Once a Red Planet, Always a Red Planet? The Birth of Mars, Professor Brian Cox explains how when Mars and Earth were born, they had similar atmospheres and were made of similar material, but the two planets took dramatically different paths. Learn how different Mars is from Earth, and how much Mars has changed in 4.6 billion years. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Planets, a series that explores the dramatic lives of the eight planets in our Solar System.
In Tied to a Star: The Fate of Mars, Professor Brian Cox explains how Mars went from being full of water to a barren desert. Learn why the Sun is so important for the planets that orbit it, including Mars and Earth. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Planets, a series that explores the dramatic lives of the eight planets in our Solar System.
In Getting Started: Life on Earth and Mars, Professor Brian Cox explains the conditions that are required for life to begin. Learn how Earth and Mars had these conditions at the same time. Could life have started in two places at once? Or might the life on Earth have come from outer space? This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Planets, a series that explores the dramatic lives of the eight planets in our Solar System.
In Once a Red Planet, Always a Red Planet? The Birth of Mars, Professor Brian Cox explains how when Mars and Earth were born, they had similar atmospheres and were made of similar material, but the two planets took dramatically different paths. Learn how different Mars is from Earth, and how much Mars has changed in 4.6 billion years. This video is excerpted from BBC’s The Planets, a series that explores the dramatic lives of the eight planets in our Solar System.