[ExI] Astronauts on round trip to Mars Could Experience Kidney Failure

[BillK]

It looks like trips to Mars will require more protection for
astronauts from cosmic radiation or much shorter travel times.
BillK

<https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/a-mission-to-mars-could-destroy-astronauts-kidneys>
Quotes:

A Mission to Mars Could Destroy Astronauts’ Kidneys
Astronauts might experience organ failure just from living in space.
By Cassidy Ward      Jun 24, 2024

We’ve known since the Apollo era that spaceflight comes at a cost to
the body. Astronauts regularly experience bone and muscle loss, vision
problems, kidney stones, and other health issues as a result of
exposure to microgravity and higher than normal doses of radiation.
All of our current crewed space activities happen in low Earth orbit
(LEO), about 250 miles above the surface of the Earth. From that
relatively close vantage point, astronauts still receive some
protection from the Earth’s magnetic field. Astronauts won’t have the
benefit of that field once they venture out into deep space.

“If we don’t develop new ways to protect the kidneys, I’d say that
while an astronaut could make it to Mars they might need dialysis on
the way back. We know that the kidneys are late to show signs of
radiation damage; by the time this becomes apparent it’s probably too
late to prevent failure, which would be catastrophic for the mission’s
chances of success," said study author Dr. Keith Siew, in a statement.
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