With the increasing focus on sending humans to Mars, I'm curious about the critical technologies that still need significant development for long-duration missions. Beyond just propulsion, what are the biggest hurdles we face in terms of life support systems, radiation shielding, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and even psychological well-being for astronauts on a multi-year journey? What are the most promising advancements currently being researched or developed that could make a sustained human presence on Mars a reality in the near future?
With the increasing focus on sending humans to Mars, I'm curious about the critical technologies that still need significant development for long-duration missions. Beyond just propulsion, what are the biggest hurdles we face in terms of life support systems, radiation shielding, in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), and even psychological well-being for astronauts on a multi-year journey? What are the most promising advancements currently being researched or developed that could make a sustained human presence on Mars a reality in the near future?
Edited by Andrew Kendrick