Man on the Moon and Mars

2011/04/01 Rojas dok., Jose F. - Astronomoa. Planeten Zientzien TaldeaEHU Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronautika
• Astronomia

In February 2010, President Obama left NASA's Constellation program, which has made this program come back to people's mouths. In fact, the main goal of the Constellation program was to forward American astronauts to the Moon. The study conducted by a presidential commission that drastically evaluated NASA's manned flight program showed that the annual budget for the Constellation program did not fit the required amount, which meant a huge increase in costs. The commission recommended that the president allocate the funds available to other missions to achieve the ultimate goal of putting a man on Mars.

Sending astronauts to our satellite has always been very expensive, which motivated the interruption of the Apollo program before its completion. Is it worth sending astronauts if it is much cheaper to send very sophisticated robots? In short, robots do not have to return to Earth.

For many of the tasks to be performed is enough with the sending of a robotic vehicle, which is what is being done lately. However, for certain works, such as the selection of samples or locations, the decision of a qualified human being found in them is essential, as clearly seen in the Apollo program. Therefore, it is a good objective to place an astronaut in the place of study. Who is interested in doing so? The list of countries in preparation is expanding. In addition to the American Space Agency (NASA), which is part of the Clementine, Lunar Prospector, LRO and LCROSS missions, the European agency (ESA) has sent a SMART-1 probe with ionic engines and prepares an automatic lander that will land near the south pole of the Moon. The Japanese space agency (JAXA) taught us a terrible Moon through the photos received by the Kaguya probe and is preparing to send a humanoid robot that will travel the surface of the Moon (to me the robot reminds me of Mazinger-Z). Russia was the first to place a mobile vehicle on the surface of the Moon ("Lunokhod-1") and is currently preparing the mission to take samples in the underground. India, after the success of the lunar mission Chandrayaan-1, prepares missions with Russia. Finally, China sent the Chang'e-2 mission to the Moon in 2010. China is the third country that with its own resources has sent astronauts into space, who have also made space rides, and have expressed their desire to lead the world scene. Therefore, China is a strong candidate to develop a space program that sends an astronaut to the Moon.

But if the goal is to achieve technological prestige, you have to go to farther goals, since on the Moon there is already a flag with bars and stars. Therefore, many have another objective: Mars. If the adventure of the Moon is very expensive, let's not say that of Mars. Therefore, collaboration projects have been created between countries to distribute among all the costs of sending space missions to the red planet. However, it is about sending automatic probes without crew.

Sending astronauts to Mars is much more complicated and dangerous than sending them to the Moon. An adventure in which they face great technological challenges. To begin with, take into account the journey. With conventional (chemical combustion) thrusters it is essential to use a low-energy path, called Hohmann orbit, to minimize the amount of fuel the container should carry. But the routes are long, they can only be used in specific moments (shooting windows) and the time needed to make these routes is long: almost 9 months to reach Mars. In addition, it is essential to return after three months and return home another 9. It is a long trip, which does not allow changing the route, which does not make the mission very attractive, even more knowing that the space for travelers is the size of the interior of a bus. Disputes between passengers would be inevitable in such a limited place.

Scientists are studying more recent propulsion systems, and one of the most promising is the peculiar VASIMR ion engine. However, it has the drawback that it needs nuclear reactors as a source of energy. These reactors are heavy and their weight would be an important barrier to the hypothetical vehicle. It reduces the advantages of the engine, although the advantages must be taken into account: it can make more energetic routes (of shorter duration) and allows to cancel the mission and return home before time (in 169 days).

In addition, it is necessary to take into account the risks in the spatial routes, in the phases of descent and rise and in the stay on the surface of Mars: breakdowns in engines or systems of vital support (air, water, temperature, residential pressure or space clothing, food), medical emergencies, surface accidents, air leaks, water or fuel and continuous radiation (Mars has no protective magnetosphere). An adventure certainly dangerous.

And for what? What are the reasons for this adventure?

The most basic reason is the same that exists at the origin of science: to know more. In the case of our neighboring planet, the implication is immediate, because we know it has water: it is possible that you have ever resided there, and if so, there may be life on Mars (we have to think of beings like bacteria, not Martian).

In addition, we must take into account the technological reputation that we have already mentioned, that is, to successfully face a challenge of these characteristics, testing many new technologies, and all this summarized in a photo: a flag set on a rocky stony, accompanied by an astronaut.

Proposing more ambitious goals, such as the installation of permanent colonies on the Moon or on Mars, is today only a wish. The large amount of water and the discovery of ice in the subsoil of Mars near the lunar south pole would facilitate the self-supply of the colony, as well as the existence of other elements of interest such as He ^3. In the case of the Moon. But it is not logical to think about the commercial exploitation of resources, since the cost of exploitation is enormous.

However, since man is human, he has always extended as far as possible, by necessity and curiosity. What we have now in front is therefore one more step of that ladder.