Approximately 21 lives have been lost since the first man boarded a rocket and took off into space 60 years ago, but as space agencies prepare for the first human mission to Mars, many are confident that the number of deaths will increase.
Astronauts heading to the red planet will spend at least seven months inside a capsule on a path never taken by humans and, if they survive the journey to the red planet, will endure the harsh environment of the Martian world.
When a crew member dies, it would be months or years before the body returned to Earth, asking a question: what about the body of a person who dies in space?
Experts have suggested several ways to remove the body, including “undoing” it in the dark abyss or burying the person on Mars, but first the remains would have to be burned so as not to contaminate the surface.
However, the worst case has been presented in which the heroes of the space fairing run out of food and the only food is the corpse of their fallen crewmate.
Scroll down to see the videos
When a crew member dies, it would be months or years before the body returned to Earth, asking a question: what about the body of a person who dies in space?
We are entering an exciting space age that many expect to take to the first boots on Mars.
However, as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk once said, “if you want to go to Mars, get ready to die.”
NASA does not have established protocols to deal with death in space, but researchers around the world have worked to respectfully eliminate a fallen astronaut, as reported by Popular Science.
If a crew member dies while making the more than 170 million-mile voyage to Mars, the body can be placed in the cold room or freeze-dried until the vessel touches.
Experts have suggested several ways to remove the body, including “undoing” it in the dark abyss or burying the person on Mars, but first the remains should be burned so as not to contaminate the surface.
Freeze-drying in space is very different from that on Earth: the body would be kept out of the capsule where space would cover it with ice.
But if it’s not an option to keep it cool, the surviving crew can send their dead companion into space.
Catherine Conley, in NASA’s Office of Planetary Protection, told Popular Science: “Currently, there are no specific guidelines in planetary protection policy, either at NASA or internationally, that address ‘burial.’ of an astronaut killed by release in space “.
Releasing the body into space seems like the easiest option, it would get stuck in the way of the boat and it would stay exactly where it was let go.
And if numerous missions choose this method, future rockets that will head to Mars will be fired through a sea of dead bodies.
When astronauts reach Mars, they will face new challenges that will threaten survival, one of which is radiation.
Previous data from the red plant suggest that it is affected by 700 times the radiation experienced on Earth.
Radiation can alter the cardiovascular system, damage the heart, harden and shrink the arteries, or remove some of the cells from the linings of the blood vessels, causing cardiovascular disease and possibly ending in death.
In this case, a Martian burial will be necessary, but NASA has strict laws about the contamination of other planets with microbes from Earth.
“As for the removal of organic matter (including bodies) on Mars,” Conley told NASA in Popular Science, “we don’t impose restrictions as long as all the microbes on Earth have been killed, so it would be necessary. cremation “.
Freeze-drying in space is very different from that of Earth: the body would be kept outside the capsule where space would cover it with ice.
When astronauts reach Mars, they will face new challenges that will threaten survival, one of which is radiation. Previous data from the red plant suggest that it is affected by 700 times the radiation experienced on Earth.
If they die while the red planet is found, a Martian burial will be necessary, but NASA has strict laws about the contamination of other planets with microbes from Earth; the body must first be burned.
However, not all dead astronauts will likely be buried, but will be eaten so that others can survive.
It may sound barbaric, but experts are studying what happened when a plane crashed into the Andes Mountains in 1972.
The passengers had no food or way to communicate, so in order to live, they made the tough decision to eat those who had died when the plane crashed.
Bioethicist Paul Wolpe said, “There are two types of approaches. One says that while we owe the body a great deal of respect, life is paramount and if the only way to survive would be to eat a body, is acceptable, but not desirable.