The best time for manned landing on Mars was in the mid-1930s.

The best time for manned landing on Mars was in the mid-1930s.

The best time for manned landing on Mars was in the mid-1930s. In recent years, government space agencies and private companies have shown great interest in manned flights to Mars and the moon. Compared with today's space station mission, manned exploration of Mars is also more difficult.

The Best Time for Manned Landing on Mars in the Mid-1930s1September14th (Reporter Dong Yingbi) A research team composed of Moscow Kolkovo Institute of Technology, German Geophysical Research Center, Potsdam University and University of California found that the mid-1930s was the best time for manned landing on Mars. The researchers simulated and found that during this period, not only the planets were arranged properly, but also the solar activities to neutralize dangerous radiation were ideal. Related research was recently published in Space Weather magazine.

In recent years, government space agencies and private companies all over the world have shown great interest in manned flights to Mars and the moon. A lot of news about the competition between Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and space exploration technology companies makes people think that the earlier the launch date, the better. However, in fact, space weather will strongly affect the feasibility of space flight. For astronauts, space radiation is a serious threat to any long-term space flight. Therefore, it is necessary to find a reasonable space flight time to protect spacecraft from external threats.

In order to solve this problem, researchers are not fighting against the space climate, but trying to adapt to it. During the whole process of flying to Mars and returning to Earth, the spacecraft was exposed to cosmic radiation, not only from interstellar space, but also from solar halo. Solar activity changes periodically with 1 1 year, during which there is a peak of solar radiation. Paradoxically, flying to Mars at the peak of solar activity is not a bad idea. Because charged solar particles that can provide enough shielding protection for spacecraft are very useful, they can weaken the more dangerous galactic radiation.

The research team used 28 dangerous particles from interstellar space and 10 radiation particles from solar flares to simulate the radiation level inside the spacecraft. These particles are positively charged atoms that have lost electrons. The only difference is that heavier and more dangerous particles from the Milky Way can enter the solar system. These particles collide strongly with atoms in the surface material of the spacecraft, resulting in a nuclear reaction, which makes the spacecraft itself radioactive. From this point of view, for astronauts, the radiation of the sun is not so much an enemy as a friend.

Researchers try to find the best combination of spacecraft protection level and launch window to achieve the longest space flight. It is found that the best launch time of manned Mars is the declining period of solar activity. The spacecraft can fly for four years with an aluminum protective screen with a thickness of 10 cm, and the radiation level will not exceed the safety standard. The next peak of solar activity is expected in 2025, so the mid-1930s will be the ideal time for manned landing on Mars.

The best time for manned landing on Mars was in the mid-1930s. Two manned spacecraft have just transported three astronauts to the Tiangong Space Station, and China's manned landing on Mars has been released!

At the Global Space Exploration Conference, China revealed to the world the idea of the future development route of manned Mars exploration.

Compared with today's space station mission, manned exploration of Mars is more difficult. In that case, why do we propose manned exploration of Mars? How to transport astronauts to Mars and get them back?

Why manned exploration of Mars?

At the Global Space Exploration Conference, Wang Xiaojun, our representative, introduced China's plans to build a sustainable base on Mars and even the Earth-Mars economic circle in the future.

The reason for exploring Mars is that, on the one hand, although today's earth is very suitable for human habitation, the environment of the earth is not static. During the Great Ice Age, the impact of asteroids on the earth and the long-term volcanic eruption may all lead to the extinction of human beings and even all life on the earth. Because of this, we should be prepared for danger in times of peace and start exploring outer space now to find a suitable home in outer space.

Mars is a more livable planet. It is close to the earth, similar in composition to the earth, and located in the livable zone of the star system. If Mars can be transformed, it may become our home in the future.

Even if Mars can't be our future home, exploring Mars technology can prepare for future immigration to outer space.

Wang Xiaojun said in his speech: Mars exploration is of great significance to mankind. It is an important way for human beings to get out of the earth, explore the origin of life and expand their living space.

Secondly, there is no biological activity on the surface of Mars, which still retains the material at the beginning of the formation of the earth. Exploring Mars can help people understand the origin of the earth and even the birth history of the entire solar system.

More importantly, exploring Mars itself can promote China's scientific and technological progress, and is conducive to cultivating independent and innovative scientific and technological talents.

How to realize manned exploration of Mars?

Wang Xiaojun, president of the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and vice chairman of IAF, put forward the development route and mission framework of manned Mars exploration. Like the space station, the mission concept of manned Mars exploration is divided into three steps:

Step 1: Robot Mars Exploration;

Through the field sampling and analysis of Mars robots on the surface of Mars, the suitable Mars base is selected and the resources around the base are used for construction. The main purpose of this step is technical preparation, and the other is to prepare for the next manned Mars exploration.

Step 2: Manual primary detection:

This step is to realize manned landing on Mars and finally complete the base construction on Mars.

Step 3: Flight detection (formation stage of economic circle):

It is necessary to establish a sustainable base, including a large-scale ground fire transport fleet and a large-scale development and application.

It is not easy to realize these three steps. Mars is 55 million kilometers away from the earth and 400 million kilometers away from the earth. Both Mars and the Earth revolve around the sun, not at rest. Moreover, the orbital plane of Mars has an included angle with the Earth, which is not flat. These external factors greatly increase the difficulty of manned Mars exploration mission.

There are many difficulties, and we must rely on the efforts of China researchers in space. Among many difficulties, the road is long and the cargo capacity is huge, so popularizing technology is one of the most difficult problems to overcome. According to the current plan, nuclear thermal propulsion is the first choice for manned Mars exploration. So what is nuclear thermal propulsion?

The working principle of nuclear thermal propulsion is: using the energy released by nuclear fission reaction, the propellant is heated and discharged at high speed to generate thrust, which can not only ensure high specific impulse, but also obtain strong thrust.

Nuclear thermal propulsion is the most complete propulsion method for nuclear energy utilization at present, which is characterized by large thrust, high specific impulse and long working time, and is very suitable for manned Mars exploration mission. If a breakthrough can be made in this technical field, the carrying capacity of the rocket will go further.

If all the technology is ready. Then, the first stage of manned Mars exploration is to launch the probe into the earth fire transfer orbit through a large or heavy launch vehicle, and then reach Mars through reverse braking.

In the second stage, we need to adopt a new task framework: the distribution of people and goods.

Because the distance between the earth and Mars is too far, and you can't go back and forth at will. The ideal departure time is: 2033, 2035, 2037, 204 1, 2043, etc. It's about a cycle of 26 months. Not only that, but also a good time to return to Earth from Mars. Therefore, it takes a long time and a lot of materials for astronauts to carry out the Mars exploration mission, and it also involves transporting astronauts back.

Therefore, it is necessary to transport a large number of "goods" to the surface of Mars. If people and goods are sent together, the load required will be very large, and the rocket propulsion device needs to be very powerful, which is impossible with the current technology. Therefore, it is necessary to transport the goods first and then send the astronauts there.

Only manned this link needs to be divided into six steps:

Enter earth orbit

Earth orbit assembly

Ground fire transfer

The landing and rising of Mars.

Mars orbital docking

return

The whole process takes hundreds of days and the flight distance reaches hundreds of millions of kilometers, including many rendezvous and docking, even exceeding 10 times. The number of rockets required is at least eight, seven launch vehicles and one manned rocket. Therefore, this manned Mars exploration mission can be said to be a project that challenges the limits of human intelligence, technology and engineering. If it can be realized, it will make China's space technology stand out in the world.

American manned landing on Mars program

In fact, the United States has also put forward the plan of manned landing on Mars, and also intends to land on Mars in 2033, but industry experts said that it is "very impossible" for the United States to land on Mars in 2033.

In the evaluation report of manned Mars exploration mission in 2033, it was pointed out that it was difficult for the United States to land on Mars by manned. From designing, manufacturing and testing rockets and spaceships to learning the best way to grow lettuce, all the technologies of manned landing on Mars need to be completed.