Protection for Humans on Mars

Protection for Humans on Mars: "For six weeks, the rover Curiosity has been on Mars. NASA also plans to send humans to Mars within the next 20 years. On the flight and during the stay on Moon or Mars, the astronauts have to be protected against long exposure to cosmic radiation that might cause cancer. On behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA), the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH tests whether Moon and Mars regolith can be used to build shielding for ground stations.

On Earth, the atmosphere and the magnetic field weaken cosmic rays. But on Moon and Mars they pelt down unhampered. The cosmic radiation can harm astronauts and could cause cancer in the long run as a result of damage in DNA and cells. "