Mars rover Curiosity showed that the level of radiation on Red planet is about the same as in low Earth orbit, where brave guys and girls hang out for months at the International space station. But the visit to Mars from this does not become less dangerous, because you have to fly for quite some time (and I would like to to return). Unlike Earth, the Red Planet does not magnetosphere, protecting from solar and galactic radiation. However, there is a subtle atmosphere, and some, but protection, it still provides. “This is the first radiation measurement in history situation on a planet other than Earth, said on press briefing one of Curiosity operators Don Hassler. – Astronauts can live in such an environment. ” 
Photos from open sources
And here is not so bad! (Photo by NASA.) Meteorological The rover station recorded data on the so-called thermal tide. The sun heats the atmosphere of the planet on the side facing it, in As a result, it expands and the pressure drops. But on the other cold reigns on the side, and there the atmosphere sinks and contracts. As Mars rotates, a bulge of heated air travels along with the day side from east to west. Curiosity has become witnessing this effect by recording a change in pressure air during the day. At the same time, he “drew attention” to daily dips in the level of charged particles, which coincided with an increase in atmospheric pressure (i.e., with atmospheric compaction). It turns out that the Martian atmosphere still serves as a protective shield. Scientists are not yet ready to estimate the daily dose of human exposure on Mars. But in general, it is clear that it will be below the level that registered a spaceship with curiosity on board during interplanetary flight. This will be the main problem: in three astronauts will receive seven years of round-trip travel more radiation than the inhabitants of the ISS at the same time. Cumulative radiation increases the risk of developing various types of cancer, therefore space agencies set limits on their stay in space. To find out the exact Martian dose is necessary in order to understand how should protect the astronauts during the flight to the Red Planet. There are also solar flares, and Curiosity has yet to see the extent to which Mars is defenseless before them. Base of course or a colony on the Red Planet in any case is better to build under ground so that only robots come to the surface. But man with with his brain, hands and eyes so far surpasses any the robot and have time to do as much as breakfast before the mechanism – for a week. Therefore, you still need to figure out how to protect the astronaut. Prepared by NewScientist.
Time Mars ISS Robots Mars Rover Curiosity
