Selecting suitable individuals for a mission to Mars is no easy task. They must prepare for the significant risk of never returning, endure a cramped spacecraft for approximately seven months to reach Mars, and possess expertise in various roles on Earth. According to a recent study reported by IFL Science on May 3rd, the first astronauts to reach Mars should be women.
Sally Ride made history when she became the first American woman to journey into space in 1983. Photo: Alan C. Heison.
This idea is not new. In the 1950s, experts from NASA’s Special Committee on Life Sciences believed that female astronauts were better suited for space travel than their male counterparts. A privately funded short-term project aimed at assessing female pilots’ suitability for becoming astronauts was called the Lovelace Women in Space Program.
Women generally have smaller and lighter bodies, requiring less oxygen and fewer calories, thus conserving weight and resources. Their reproductive systems are also believed to be more radiation-resistant, and they experience fewer heart-related issues than men. However, due in part to gender inequality during that era, only men were typically chosen as astronauts. The first American woman in space was Sally Ride, who made her historic journey in 1983.
A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports in April reaffirmed the ideas put forth by Dr. W. Randolph Lovelace II and Dr. Donald Flickinger in the 1950s, emphasizing the advantages of female astronauts. The study was conducted by Jonathan P. R. Scott, an expert at the French Institute of Space Physiology and Medicine (MEDES), along with colleagues.
The team of experts examined oxygen consumption, total energy expenditure, CO2 production, heat generation, and water requirements for both male and female astronauts during long-duration space missions. The results showed that for male astronauts, simply their body size alone led to significant increases in all these measures. Specifically, total energy expenditure increased by 30%, oxygen consumption increased by 60%, CO2 production increased by 60%, and water requirements increased by 17%. Female astronauts exhibited much better metrics, even when accounting for their increased body size.
Combining this new research with the current trend toward smaller living modules, it suggests that an all-female crew could be advantageous for the first Mars landing.
( According to IFL Science )