From: Larry Klaes (ljk4@msn.com)
Date: Thu May 02 2002 - 19:38:30 PDT
A friend or colleague of yours, Larry Klaes, wanted you to
read this news summary published by spacetoday.net.
This article is also available on the web at:
http://www.spacetoday.net/getsummary.php?id=877 .
Report: more studies of Martian hazards necessary
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Posted: Thu, May 2 12:53 PM ET (1653 GMT)
NASA should conduct more research into potential
environmental, chemical, and biological hazards before
sending any humans to Mars, a report issued Wednesday
concluded. The report, by the National Research Council,
said that a number of aspects of the Martian environment
could pose risks to future astronauts, ranging from rough
terrain to hazardous chemicals to native biological
organisms. The report noted as one example that there is
uncertainty about the amount of hexavelant chromium, a metal
that is a carcinogen in even small doses, present in Martian
dust. The report also said that NASA should identify regions
of "minimal biologic risk" on the planet before sending
people there, as well as enact safeguards to prevent any
Martian life from contaminating the Earth.
Related Links:
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National Research Council press release:
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309084261?OpenDocument
New Scientist article:
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992246
AP article (via CNN):
http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/05/01/mars.visitors.ap/index.html
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