Thread by @EwingT_PhD

“If we see senescence even under these conditions, we would certainly want to do some work in preparation for a longer mission. Something to be worked out before interplanetary flights are really feasible.”
—Dr James Kirkland @MayoClinic

#science #space
watoday.com.au/world/north-am…

“Then there is radiation. The crew on the ISS will be inside the Van Allen belt but the real worry is what’s going to happen if there is a Mars mission, and if there is a solar flare, because then you’re dealing with atomic radiation."

“We’ve found in preliminary studies very low doses of atomic radiation can drive a cell into senescence at much lower levels than x-rays or gamma rays."

“And, with atomic radiation, it could pass right through the spacecraft: it’s hard to stop. So if there’s a Mars mission this could really be a major problem."

“I’m a physician, not a space scientist, so my view is biased, but I’d say the health problem is pretty darn bad, and I’m very worried after what I’ve seen.”