There are several reasons we do not do this:
- Mass: Astronauts and everything it takes to keep them alive in space are very massive. For comparison, the entire solar array has less mass than half that of a human being. Astronauts need a lot more room than computers or other automated equipment, and bigger craft are heavier. Greater mass will require much more fuel for take off and a much more complex design.
- Technology: As of yet, technology that could sustain astronauts for that long hasn't been proven to be reliable. Although we have space stations around Earth, these are provided with fresh supplies on a timely basis. DS1 will be gone for over a year.
- Safety: Deep space is a dangerous place. We don't entirely understand what those dangers are and can't plan for them. Also, DS1's mission will take it in harm's way, from flying close to an asteroid to orbiting Mars.
- Cost: A manned mission to Mars would be very expensive, both to get the astronauts and their equipment off Earth and to care for them as they travel to Mars and back. DS1 is part of the New Millennium Program that is designed to send low-cost unmanned missions into space.
- Round Trip Tickets: We haven't yet colonized Mars, so any mission that gets to Mars carrying human beings has to return to Earth, which would more than double the cost in terms of fuel and supplies. Remote agents don't need to come home---DS1 will eventually lose contact and "die" from not getting enough sunlight. (All that said, however, NASA is planning to send astronauts to Mars in the year 2015. DS1 will help us learn more about getting to Mars in preparation for that mission.)
- Loneliness, isolation and cabin fever: NASA can't do long missions quickly, nor can it support large communities in space. That means that a very small group of astronauts would be trapped together in a small space for many months together, with no private space or ability to get away or communicate easily with people outside the spacecraft. This would wear on the nerves of the most easygoing person.
Why was Remote Agent chosen to go on DS1?
What are the advantages of remote agents?
What happens to a ship when its remote agent dies?
How does NASA run space missions?
What is the New Millennium Program?
What will DS1 do on its mission?
Why is mass (weight) important?
Why do space missions take so long?
FAQs
Astronauts need a lot more room than computers or other automated equipment, and bigger craft are heavier. Greater mass will require much more fuel for take off and a much more complex design. Technology: As of yet, technology that could sustain astronauts for that long hasn't been proven to be reliable.
Why should we not send astronauts to space? ›
The cancer risk from cosmic rays and the problems that human bodies experience in microgravity could be deal-breakers on their own. Moreover, there may not be a viable economic case for sustaining a presence on another world. Historically, there hasn't been much public support for spending big money on it.
Why can't we travel in deep space? ›
Star Wars would have you believe that the greatest challenges to space travel is asteroids, lack of resources like water or fuel, or even the threat of unfriendly, intelligent alien life. But in reality, scientists are finding that the biggest obstacle to today's space travel is dust. Yes, space dust.
Why haven't we sent astronauts to Mars? ›
So why haven't humans yet traveled to Mars? According to NASA, there are a number of obstacles that we still need to overcome before sending a human mission to the planet, including technological innovation and a better understanding of the human body, mind and how we might adapt to life on another planet.
What is the biggest problem with space travel? ›
Exploration missions that leave the Earth's protective sphere, however, will have to overcome many challenges, from conditions in space such as cosmic radiation and hazardous environments to human-specific conditions such as space adaptation syndrome (motion sickness), spatial memory, visual motor performance, bone ...
Should we still send humans to space? ›
Humans should continue going to space. Astronauts still face dangers, but practice makes perfect. As research and technology develop, we'll find ways to keep astronauts safe. We'll also find ways to reduce the impact of low gravity on the body and protect astronauts' health.
Should we send people to space? ›
Benefits to Humanity
Space exploration unites the world to inspire the next generation, make ground-breaking discoveries, and create new opportunities.
What are the risks of going to space? ›
Exploration to the Moon and Mars will expose astronauts to five known hazards of spaceflight:
- Space Radiation.
- Isolation and Confinement.
- Distance From Earth.
- Gravity Fields.
- Hostile Closed Environments.
Table 1.
| Microgravity | Radiation |
|---|
| Changes in cell structure and differentiation | Bone loss and fractures |
| Altered immune response | Cardiovascular dysfunction |
| Impaired tissue repair | Carcinogenesis |
| Cardiovascular dysregulation | CNS changes |
4 more rowsCriticism of the Space Shuttle program stemmed from claims that NASA's Space Shuttle program failed to achieve its promised cost and utility goals, as well as design, cost, management, and safety issues. Fundamentally, it failed in the goal of reducing the cost of space access.
Not only will astronauts be exposed to more radiation in space than on Earth, but the radiation they are exposed to could pose increased risks.
