The team simulated the impact of prolonged exposure to zero gravity on the cardiovascular system to determine whether the human body can tolerate Mars’ gravitational forces – which aren’t as strong as on Earth – without fainting or suffering a medical emergency when stepping out of a spacecraft.
The model could be used to assess the impact of short and long duration space flight on the body and provide vital information for landing humans on Mars in the future.
There are multiple risks associated with travelling to Mars, although one of the largest is prolonged exposure to microgravity which could cause fundamental changes to the body alongside exposure to damaging radiation from the Sun.
“We know it takes about six to seven months to travel to Mars and this could cause the structure of your blood vessels or the strength of your heart to change due to the weightlessness experienced as a result of zero-gravity space travel,” said ANU’s Dr Lex van Loon...