A Mars mission could do permanent damage to astronauts’ kidneys Mice exposed to 2.5 years’ worth of cosmic radiation suffered kidney damage and failure A round-trip Mars mission would take up to three years WEDNESDAY, June 12, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Mankind is eyeing Mars as its next grand expedition, but the human body might not be capable of dealing with such a journey, a new study warns. It’s very likely that an astronaut’s kidneys could be permanently damaged by cosmic radiation during a years-long mission to Mars, researchers reported June 11 in the journal .
A round-trip to Mars would take up to three years, but the kidneys of lab mice exposed to the equivalent of 2.5 years’ worth of galactic radiation wound up with permanent damage and loss of function, the researchers said. “If we don’t develop new ways to protect the kidneys, I’d say that while an astronaut could make it to Mars, they might need dialysis on the way back,” said lead researcher , with University College London's Department of Renal Medicine.
It was already known that astronauts who spend extended time in space suffer from the development of kidney stones, as well as other health problems like loss of bone mass, weakening of the heart and a decline in eyesight. But until now, kidney stones had been thought to develop during space missions due to the bone loss that occurs with weightlessness, leading to a build-up of calcium in the astronaut’s urine. “We know what has happened to .
