Exploration: mission to Mars should last no longer than four years

To send travelers to Mars, scientists and engineers will have to overcome many technological challenges.

obstacles and safety problems. One of them is the serious risk associated with radiation from particles from the Sun, distant stars and galaxies.

The main task of scientists is to find an answer to two questions.First, would particle radiation pose too much of a threat to human life on a round trip to Mars? Secondly, is it possible to protect astronauts and spacecraft from radiation by regulating the flight itself, for example, its duration? Scientists answer both in an article for Space Weather magazine.

According to the study, the danger of radiation intravel time to Mars can be minimized by limiting the duration of the mission. On average, it should not exceed four years. Also, the time of man's flight to Mars matters. Scientists have determined that the best time is the period of solar maximum. Then the spacecraft will be less exposed to dangerous and energetic particles from distant galaxies. They will be rejected by increased solar activity.

A trip that long would be possible.On average, a flight to Mars takes about nine months. Therefore, depending on the launch time and the available fuel, the human mission will reach the Red Planet and return to Earth in less than two years.

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Solar maximum - the period of the greatest solaractivity in the solar cycle. During the solar maximum, the largest number of sunspots is observed on its surface. During maximum solar activity, sunspots sink to below latitude and are located closer to the solar equator.