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Cosmic Rays Could Kill Astronauts Visiting Mars

Posted by timothy on from the tough-break-for-ahnold dept.

jvchamary writes "Given the recent stream of reports of 10th planets and the relative success of the NASA Discovery mission, it might again be time to get excited at the prospect of visiting the Red Planet. Unfortunately, New Scientist reports that Astronauts traveling to Mars would be exposed to so much cosmic radiation that 10% would die of cancer."

21 of 722 comments (clear)

  1. Whoa, that's gotta suck by BlackCobra43 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Not only is it cancer, it's space cancer. That's gotta be like 10 times worse ;)

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    1. Re:Whoa, that's gotta suck by spectre_240sx · · Score: 3, Funny

      I wonder if that might cause... SPACE MADNESS!!!

    2. Re:Whoa, that's gotta suck by jafiwam · · Score: 5, Funny

      That's better than "Space Herpes".

    3. Re:Whoa, that's gotta suck by LexNaturalis · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah, especially since your health insurance may well consider Mars to be out of network. "I'm sorry, we only cover illnesses on Earth"

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    4. Re:Whoa, that's gotta suck by torpor · · Score: 2, Funny

      maybe the radiation is so bad that men grow boobies, anyway ..

      hmm.

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    5. Re:Whoa, that's gotta suck by peculiarmethod · · Score: 3, Funny

      yeah, sure, what with all those men not looking into his eyes when he speaks.

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    6. Re:Whoa, that's gotta suck by IAmTheDave · · Score: 2, Funny

      No no no - you've got it all wrong. All you have to do is find the hidden alien base, put your hand on the sphere with the 4 finger hand imprint, and suddenly Mars will have the atmosphere - and more importantly the protection - they so desperately need.

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    7. Re:Whoa, that's gotta suck by tbischel · · Score: 2, Funny

      Why don't we just send terminally ill cancer patients to mars? Then shielding won't be such a big factor and the return trip becomes optional.

      (jk, Im not a big jerk... really)

    8. Re:Whoa, that's gotta suck by runep · · Score: 3, Funny

      If he doesn't want us to look at them, he shouldn't dress so damn sexy.

  2. Effects of Cosmic Rays by the+darn · · Score: 4, Funny

    Also, 25% will become stretchy, 25% will turn invisible, 25% will burst into flames, and 25% will have their skin replaced by an orangey rock-like substance!

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    1. Re:Effects of Cosmic Rays by Tumbleweed · · Score: 3, Funny

      Don't forget the 25% that turns evil, and gets the power to control electromagnetic waves. Or whatever it is his power was. I was too distracted looking at the invisible woman to pay attention. Wait, looking at the invisible woman? I think I just figured out what was wrong with that movie...

    2. Re:Effects of Cosmic Rays by Tatarize · · Score: 4, Funny

      The fifth 25% will be bad at math.

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      It is no longer uncommon to be uncommon.
    3. Re:Effects of Cosmic Rays by AviLazar · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yea but don't worry, 25% of /.'ers already know how to "FLAME ON"!

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  3. That's Easy... by eklitzke · · Score: 5, Funny

    We only send nine :)

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    1. Re:That's Easy... by RandWalker · · Score: 2, Funny
      We only send nine :)

      ... and a lucky rat.

  4. Re:Risk v. Reward by le_jfs · · Score: 4, Funny

    10% would get fatal cancer sometime in their lives.

    Well, we can safely assume that it will be at the end of their lives.

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  5. Cue the drum rolls by fwice · · Score: 3, Funny

    Astronauts traveling to Mars would be exposed to so much radiation that 10% would die of cancer.

    For once I'm glad I have a tinfoil hat!

    (cue rimshot)

  6. Re:Easy Solution by ekephart · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, lead is insufficient. They'll need something heavier, like Urani... oh.

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  7. Re:On the bright side. by dzfoo · · Score: 2, Funny

    They were at least as likely to dye from malnutrition during the trip...

    Hum... yellow's for liver deseases, blue is for lack of oxygen, and green's for envy. What color's for malnutrition? -dZ.

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  8. Re:Send old people. by TopShelf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just call it "whole body radiation therapy."

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  9. Re:lead is 60% lighter on Mars by Rei · · Score: 2, Funny

    Could someone please explain to me what astronauts are doing with anvils in space? Perhaps they're using them to hammer out tools to gouge out shuttle tile filler strips?

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