The radiation from the Sun would seriously damage brain tissues as rocket ships presently are incapable of protecting astronauts visiting the red planet. The MSL, which used robots for the mission, said Nasa needs to design systems to protect human explorers from radiation.
Going to Mars is seen as the next big thing for human space exploration with many companies announcing plans to take volunteers to the planet.
"Understanding the radiation environment inside a spacecraft carrying humans to Mars or other deep space destinations is critical for planning future crewed missions ," said San Antonio-based Southwest Research Institute's Cary Zeitlin.
MSL's Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) is the first instrument to measure the radiation environment during a Mars cruise mission from inside a spacecraft that is similar to potential human exploration spacecraft.
Scientists have vowed to overcome the hurdles. "As this nation (the US) strives to reach an asteroid and Mars in our lifetimes, we're working to solve every puzzle nature poses to keep astronauts safe so they can explore the unknown and return home,'' said William Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for human exploration and operations. "We learn more about the human body's ability to adapt to space everyday aboard the International Space Station.''
Gerstenmaier said they will continue to make advances needed to reduce risks for explorers as they build the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket to carry and shelter them in deep space. "Curiosity's RAD instrument is giving us critical data we need so that we humans, like the rover, can dare mighty things to reach the Red Planet."
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