Doubts arise over human missions to Mars following discovery of astronaut kidney shrinkage.

A scientist has said that an astronaut could get there but when they are on the way back they may require dialysis. ”

All Martian expeditions may be endangered after new findings suggested that space travel affects the shape of an astronaut’s kidney.

According to analysis of samples taken from over 40 human-space missions, as well as mice who accompanied the astronauts, the exposure to outer space conditions causes the kidneys to remodel, and some sections of the organs diminish in size after less than a month in space.

The results could pose problems for SpaceX and Nasa who have ambitions to launch manned missions to the red planet in the near future, with Musk saying such a trip could be undertaken in the range of “10 to 20 years”.

Researchers from University College London (UCL) have published a study showing the adverse physiological effects of microgravity and galactic radiation which astronauts are exposed to when in space. The longer a person is subjected to these conditions, then the higher the risks are.

However the researchers have not dismissed future missions to Mars. They argue that precautions should be taken to protect the kidneys to avoid any damage on the astronauts. Onboard spacecraft, methods of recovery such as dialysis machines could also be introduced.

Importantly, the first author of the study, Dr. Keith Siew, speaks about the deterioration of such conditions as kidney stones in astronauts during short space missions. Nevertheless, the causes of these problems and their effect on long duration missions such as the proposed Mars mission remain uncertain.

Dr. Siew is cautioning that without innovation in terms of kidney protection, astronauts may need dialysis upon their return from Mars. It also states that kidney is important in space missions since radiation affects them and may cause failure hence threatening the outcome of the mission.

The study’s lead author is Professor Stephen Walsh, and he underlines the importance of kidney protection when designing space missions. Although shielding cannot protect the kidneys from galactic radiation, there may be potential in renal biology to develop some technological or pharmaceutical solution(s) for long term space travel.

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