Colonizing Mars Might Require Humans to Radically Alter Their Bodies and Minds

[bigheadfred]

Training in Antarctica or on the International Space Station won't provide adequate preparation for human settlement on Mars, according to new research.

 In 2016, two astronauts finished nearly a year of work on the International Space Station. NASA's Scott Kelly and Russia's Mikhail Kornienko were studied closely for changes in their physical and psychological health.

NASA touts the mission as part of its "Journey to Mars", in which it hopes to send humans to the Red Planet by the 2030s. But a recent paper published in the journal Space Policy argues that there are so many aspects to a Martian colony that it is all but impossible to simulate the parameters on Earth.

http://www.seeker.com/colonizing-mars-might-require-humans-to-radically-alter-their-bodies-a-2304346104.html

[Cripplecreek]

Humans are incredibly adaptable creatures. The most adaptable on the planet but I agree that technological, surgical and genetic help will be needed.

The Pandorum flick had an interesting answer to the problem. Passengers on the ship were given a drug that led to rapid adaption (evolution) to the environment of the planet they were going to.

[bigheadfred]

Humans are incredibly adaptable creatures. The most adaptable on the planet but I agree that technological, surgical and genetic help will be needed.

The Pandorum flick had an interesting answer to the problem. Passengers on the ship were given a drug that led to rapid adaption (evolution) to the environment of the planet they were going to.

An adaptation to more efficiently use oxygen and resistance to cold would probably help.

[Cripplecreek]

An adaptation to more efficiently use oxygen and resistance to cold would probably help.

Exactly. Its not so much about making humans so adapted to mars that is "human habitable" but to make it more human habitable to make us less reliant on technology to survive there.

We would still need heated and pressurized suits and shelter but pressures could be kept at 25 percent earth pressure or temperatures kept much lower. Its a huge energy savings and survivability at lower temps and pressures in emergencies is increased.

[roamer_1]

@Quix

As in the days of Noah....

[Quix]

@Quix

As in the days of Noah....

YUP.

Thanks.

[Cripplecreek]

Another good adaptation would be smaller humans that take up less space and eat less food. Humans that only grow to the size of a 10 year old child could be advantageous.

[240B]

Just like in all the books and movies, once we colonize Mars humans and martians will become two separate species. They will no longer be able to live on Earth without a suit and vice versa. Eventually and inevitably, these two former partners will begin to have disputes over resources and political issues. These disputes will escalate until we are at full blown war. Earth will win the war but the martians form an underground which will defeat Earth's occupation. Mars will setup powerful planetary defense systems. The moon becomes the DMZ and all transfers of goods or meetings happen there.

That's the what I see happening. It is a shame. But I can see no way to avoid it.

[Cripplecreek]

Just like in all the books and movies, once we colonize Mars humans and martians will become two separate species. They will no longer be able to live on Earth without a suit and vice versa. Eventually and inevitably, these two former partners will begin to have disputes over resources and political issues. These disputes will escalate until we are at full blown war. Earth will win the war but the martians form an underground which will defeat Earth's occupation. Mars will setup powerful planetary defense systems. The moon becomes the DMZ and all transfers of goods or meetings happen there.

That's the what I see happening. It is a shame. But I can see no way to avoid it.

There is no shame about it. I think most of us see it as a good and necessary thing for humanoid expansion. Eventually earth and mars would find themselves under friendly terms as independent sovereign planets much like the USA and Britain today.

The very first sci fi book I remember from my childhood was about a revolt against earth (Revolt on Alpha C). The right and desire for self determination don't disappear with distance.

[240B]

There factually is no doubt that we will become two distinct species. For example, they will become much taller, and will have a different form of vision. To speed this up they need to breed. Breed young, and breed often. The sooner we get a few generations born, the sooner and more pronounced the adaptations will be.

This is important because I doubt the first gen astronauts will live very long after arriving because they are adapted to live on Earth. Their bones will degenerate, muscle will atrophy, among other things. However, the second generation onward should fare much better.

[jmyrlefuller]

An adaptation to more efficiently use oxygen and resistance to cold would probably help.

The sherpas that occupy the Himalayas have exactly those traits. They would make excellent case studies.

[Ghost Bear]

SF has been there, done that...

[Smokin Joe]

The sherpas that occupy the Himalayas have exactly those traits. They would make excellent case studies.

Yeah, I was thinking midget sherpas would be ideal...

[Gefn]

SF has been there, done that...

I was told to read the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson.

[Smokin Joe]

There is no shame about it. I think most of us see it as a good and necessary thing for humanoid expansion. Eventually earth and mars would find themselves under friendly terms as independent sovereign planets much like the USA and Britain today.

The very first sci fi book I remember from my childhood was about a revolt against earth (Revolt on Alpha C). The right and desire for self determination don't disappear with distance.

Nor will they disappear with other differences in needs and resources as well. If you taxed each earthling a liter of water a year, that would be one thing in terms of resources, someone on Mars, something entirely different. Imagine earth imposed BMI and 'health' parameters, for instance, after a few generations on Mars (which make as much sense as imposing that single standard or dietary constraints on several regional genetic pools in the US today). One size does not fit all, even on a smaller than interplanetary scale.

[catfish1957]

Before or after having to fight off "The Belters"

[Smokin Joe]

Before or after having to fight off "The Belters"

I see the 'belters' as being in much the same position as those of us who live in states that provide the raw materials of industry. We get paid little for the materials, get sold back the products at insane markups, and get taxed on all of it by people who never get their fingernails dirty.

In almost every human conflict, there are reasons for one side or the other to be aggrieved. Belters won't be any happier about a 'corporate' in some city on Earth making decisions about what they "need", any more than a farmer in North Dakota likes some chairborne commando with a manicure and Italian loafers instead of workboots in DC telling them how to plant. It never has 'flown', it never will.
The only way such a federation will hold together is if the power of government is localized (and not corrupt) as much as possible. Micromanagement from afar will lead to war sooner rather than later.

[Joe Wooten]

I was told to read the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson.

Keep a barf bag handy for when Robinson goes off on a socialist rant. He ruined the trilogy with that crapola.

[Gefn]

Keep a barf bag handy for when Robinson goes off on a socialist rant. He ruined the trilogy with that crapola.

Thanks. The reviews on Amazon were mixed. They were saying he can write like a dream but his politics ruined a lot of it for many readers.

I figured I'd go to my library this week and read a chapter or two and see for myself. I had never heard of him before yesterday. @Joe Wooten

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

I was told to read the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson.

You must have really ticked someone off.

[Gefn]

You must have really ticked someone off.

No, one of my cousins children told me about him. She knows I like SF, but haven't read anything new since the millennium. I actually turned her on to SF when she was 12, I bought her Bradbury and Asimov.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

No, one of my cousins children told me about him. She knows I like SF, but haven't read anything new since the millennium. I actually turned her on to SF when she was 12, I bought her Bradbury and Asimov.

I have the series on audiobooks stored on my computer in a folder called "Really boring Mars series".  If you can make it through all three books, you'll be three ahead of me (and I almost never give up on a book without finishing it).

[kevindavis007]

So???



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[kevindavis007]

Keep a barf bag handy for when Robinson goes off on a socialist rant. He ruined the trilogy with that crapola.

I read his books, and yes he ruined the trilogy with the Socialist rant..

[kevindavis007]

Just like in all the books and movies, once we colonize Mars humans and martians will become two separate species. They will no longer be able to live on Earth without a suit and vice versa. Eventually and inevitably, these two former partners will begin to have disputes over resources and political issues. These disputes will escalate until we are at full blown war. Earth will win the war but the martians form an underground which will defeat Earth's occupation. Mars will setup powerful planetary defense systems. The moon becomes the DMZ and all transfers of goods or meetings happen there.

That's the what I see happening. It is a shame. But I can see no way to avoid it.

That is how I see it as well.. I find nothing wrong being two different species.. Now that is true diversity.  I happen to be a proponent of modifying the human DNA to adapt of various planets if they can't be terraformed..