6 Reasons Why Human Space Exploration is Hazardous (with Solutions)

by Carson
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Hazards of spaceflight

You might dream of going to space every now and then. However, this is a perilous feat. Here are 6 reasons why becoming an astronaut requires rigorous training and how space agencies cope with these difficulties to make human space exploration worth it.

Table of Contents

  1. Space Radiation
  2. The Variation of G-forces
  3. Space Debris
  4. Isolation
  5. Lack of Emergency Support
  6. Insurmountable Malfunctions

Space Radiation

Radiation is arguably most significant threat to astronauts while they’re in space. If we’re talking about deep space travel, the spacecraft is out of Earth’s magnetic field almost all the time, and astronauts inside might face health problems dealing with the radiation.

Therefore, crewed spacecraft have extensive protection against radiation in their walls to make it a safe place for astronauts to live in.

The Variation of G-forces

Unlike the other problems, this cannot be solved by equipment alone. And that’s why astronauts need training and be physically fit. The g-force felt by the astronauts can be up to 3G’s during launch, and it’s approximately 1.7Gs during reentry.

However, it’s the variation of g-forces that is the most dangerous. Humans, like other living objects, adapt to the environment. That means when the astronauts are in space, they are adjusting to live better in microgravity. However, reentry (and launch) is so dramatic that astronauts probably won’t fully adapt to the sharp change in g-forces during these stages of spaceflight.

Space Debris

Moreover, space debris can be a hazard to astronauts. Manned spacecraft are usually protected by a thick layer of walls. However, larger pieces of debris, combined with their enormous speeds in Earth’s orbit, can penetrate those layers or cause a structural failure.

Unfortunately, it seems like the only solution is to reduce the amount of space debris. We can dispose of nearly unusable satellites by burning them up in the atmosphere. Moreover, we can use other space probes to clean space junk and return these items to Earth.

Isolation

Furthermore, there are usually only a few people in every manned space probe. This can substantially reduce contact with people outside despite being able to communicate with Mission Control on Earth. These can cause mental and behavioral problems that can hinder the performance of the astronauts. The only solution is to train and support the astronauts and “ensure they can work effectively as a team for months or years” (NASA, n.d.).

Lack of Emergency Support

In deep space, the distance from Earth is enormous for astronauts. And that distance means communication delays as light moves at a specific, limited speed. For instance, if the crew is on Mars, one-way communication generally takes anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the position of the planets.

Therefore, the astronauts need to have sufficient skills to deal with any contingencies in case something goes wrong. If they don’t, the situation might worsen a lot during the delay, and this can even lead to fatalities!

Insurmountable Malfunctions

Fortunately, there are systems in which astronauts can use them to escape from the rocket if the launch vehicle fails. However, they must activate the launch escape system in a very stressful situation, which might be fatal to the entire crew if the wrong decision is made.

Moreover, if failures or malfunctions occur in space, the astronauts have little time to save themselves. Sometimes it means evacuating from the spacecraft altogether, and the ISS has been nearly abandoned a few times due to space debris.

Conclusion

Here are 6 reasons why human space exploration is hazardous. However, it is still worth it, due to the precautions the space agency takes and the training the astronauts receives. If you want to know more about human spaceflight, please read the articles in the references below.

Besides, if we missed any important points, we would appreciate it if you comment below.

References and Credits

  1. NASA. (2019, May 8). 5 Hazards of Human Spaceflight. Retrieved June 9, 2021, from https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/5-hazards-of-human-spaceflight
  2. Jonathan Amos. (2011, June 28). International Space Station in debris scare. Retrieved June 9, 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-13949956
  3. Gemma Lavender. (2013, December 24). What g-force do astronauts experience during a rocket launch? |. Retrieved June 9, 2021, from https://www.spaceanswers.com/space-exploration/what-g-force-do-astronauts-experience-during-a-rocket-launch/
  4. Tom Jones. (2016, April 30). Ask the Astronaut: Which is more fun, the ascent into orbit or the reentry? Retrieved June 9, 2021, from https://www.airspacemag.com/ask-astronaut/ask-astronaut-which-more-fun-ascent-orbit-or-reentry-space-landing-180958963/
  5. NASA’s Mars Exploration Program. (n.d.). Communications. Retrieved June 9, 2021, from https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/spacecraft/rover/communications/

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