The safest place for human beings on Mars that covers him from radiation, can become a lava tube located in the basin of Hellas Shipyards, at a depth of seven kilometers, where over the head people will be more Martian atmosphere.
On Mars there is no absolutely safe place for the base. But a team of researchers has identified, where is the best shelter for future Martians: a chain of lava tubes in the lower part of the impact basin Hellas to the Shipyards.
Mars unfriendly — he’s got a dry dusty surface, the lack of oxygen and every day he bathed in the rays of solar radiation, which is the main issue for colonization. On the Ground us from radiation covers a powerful magnetic shield — the magnetosphere.
Pool Greece the Shipyards, in itself, has several advantages. Studies from NASA have shown that the most radioactive regions of Mars are its poles. But Greece of Shipyards is closer to the equator. Additionally, the impact basin is one of the basest — 7 152 meters. This means that over the head of people will have a thicker layer of the atmosphere of Mars. The researchers write that at the bottom of the pool to 50% less radiation than in the high-altitude regions of Mars — 342 µsv (microsievert) per day (Sol) vs 547 µsv. But it’s still a lot to be considered a safe level of radiation (0,5 µsv / h). It’s exposure at 25% more than getting astronauts to the ISS each day, where they spend only a few months, not years. The effect of radiation dose in the amount of 342 µsv per day for many years may pose a serious danger to humans.
The maximum safe dose, according to the nuclear regulatory Commission of the United States, is 6200 µsv per year. At 342 mSv per day, the explorers of Mars will exceed the safe threshold in just 19 days.
Scientists estimate that, living in a lava tube Greece, people will get around 61,64 µsv per day. But this dose is unsafe. True tubes has and other benefits for life. Strengthen them, make tight, and you will be able to maintain the required pressure and to heat them, creating a livable environment. The tube also protects from micrometeorites, temperature changes on the surface of the planet from the Martian dust. In addition, it will be possible to dig from the comfort of “home”.
