The joint research of the international team believes
The best time for manned landing on Mars in the mid-1930s
Science and Technology Daily, Moscow, September 14 (Reporter Dong Yingbi) A research team composed of scientists from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow, Russia, the German Geophysical Research Center, the University of Potsdam, and the University of California found that the mid-1930s was The best time for a man to land on Mars.
The researchers simulated that during this period, not only did the planets line up with each other in an appropriate position, but also the solar activity that neutralized dangerous radiation was ideal.
Related research was recently published in the "Space Weather" magazine.
In recent years, both government aerospace agencies and private companies have shown great interest in manned flights to Mars and the moon.
A lot of news about the competition between Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and space exploration technology companies makes people feel that the sooner the launch date, the better.
However, in fact, space weather will strongly affect the feasibility of space flight.
For astronauts, space radiation is a serious threat to any long-term space flight.
Therefore, protecting the spacecraft from external threats requires finding a reasonable time period for space flight.
In order to solve this problem, researchers are not fighting the space climate, but trying to adapt to it.
Throughout the process of flying to Mars and returning to Earth, the spacecraft is exposed to cosmic radiation, not only radiation from interstellar space, but also radiation from the sun's halo.
The solar activity changes in an 11-year cycle, during which there is a peak of solar radiation.
Paradoxically, flying to Mars at the peak of solar activity is not a bad idea.
Because charged solar particles that can provide adequate shielding to the spacecraft are very useful, they can attenuate the more dangerous galactic radiation.
The research team used 28 types of dangerous particles from interstellar space and 10 types of radiation particles from solar flares to simulate the radiation level inside the spacecraft.
These particles are positively charged atoms that have lost electrons.
The only difference is that heavier and more dangerous particles from the Milky Way can enter the solar system.
The nuclear reaction caused by the strong collision between these particles and the atoms in the spacecraft surface material makes the spacecraft itself radiative.
From this point of view, for astronauts, the sun’s radiation is more a friend than an enemy.
Researchers tried to find the best combination of spacecraft protection level and launch window in order to achieve the longest space flight. Studies have found that the best launch time for manned Mars is the declining period of solar activity. With the use of an aluminum protective screen with a thickness of 10 cm, the spacecraft can continue to fly for a long period of 4 years, and the radiation level will not exceed the safety standard. The next peak of solar activity is expected in 2025. Therefore, the mid-1930s will be an ideal time for manned landing on Mars.