A new in-house report released by NASA's inspector general office as a result of its extensive audit revealed that astronauts who will be joining the mission to Mars currently planned for 2030 may face serious health risks.
The audit performed by the NASA's inspector general checked the overall effort done by the space agency in keeping astronauts safe during long missions, particularly the planned 2030 long mission to mars, which is the first manned mission to the Red Planet.
In its report, NBC News said the planned three-year, round-trip mission to Mars expose the astronauts to the following health risks: cancer due to space radiation, damage to the central nervous system, infertility, cataracts, psychological problems brought about by extreme isolation, and weakened bones, muscles and eyesight due to prolonged weightlessness.
Weight loss and malnutrition may also be a potential health risk as types of medicine and food may be limited during long missions, including the planned 2030 Mars mission.
The 54-page report claims that NASA is making progress in identifying and managing these health risks but points out that the space station is still facing significant challenges to ensuring the safety of astronauts on manned missions to Mars or deep space. NASA's Inspector General Paul Martin, however, noted that the space agency remains optimistic it can resolve all issues come 2030.
According to Daily Mail, although Russians are proven to be the world's space endurance champions, their manned space missions have not went beyond 14 months. The U.S., on the other hand, had only spent 7 months at a time during a manned mission in space.
The release of the audit report was also coincidental to the same day when astronaut Scott Kelly broke the record for the longest single space flight by an American. During the said time, International Space Station Commander Scott Kelly already has cumulatively spent 216 days straight in orbit. Kelly is spending almost a year in space for scientists to examine the effects of zero gravity on his health, then compare the results to that of his twin brother, Mark.
"I'm pretty sure I'm going to get through it without much of an issue," Scott Kelly said in an interview, adding that he hope his mission will also help the planned manned mission to Mars.
