Dusty old Mars will not be Home
Some folks consider Elon Musk a visionary, making long-held hopes of going to Mars seem possible. It appears that he is not consulting with scientists about the journey. Radiation from the earth to the moon was bad enough, but traveling farther away could be disastrous to travelers.
Dust on earth gets unsightly and makes people sneeze. The dust on the moon was different than ours, causing problems for the Apollo astronauts. It could conceivably tear their suits, and it was a great concern for protecting their equipment. Then there is Mars dust.
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Curiosity rover takes pictures of Mars dust storm, NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS (usage does not imply endorsement) |
Martian dust could pose health risks to future astronauts (Univ of Colorado, 31 March 2025). In preparation for human exploration of Mars, a team of researchers including some from U Colorado catalogued the dangers in Martian dust. Dust is ubiquitous all over Mars, as the global dust storms visible from Earth and spacecraft attest. Dust was known to be a big irritant to Apollo astronauts, but it could be even more problematic for long stays on Mars. Here’s a summary of health risks in the dust:
To read the rest, bring your feather duster and visit "Mars Dust Poses Serious Health Hazards."