Effects of living in lower gravity
From NewMars
Very little is known for certain about the effects of living in the lower gravity of Mars. It will be an ongoing area of research for some time.
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Biological effects
Known biology has evolved in Terran gravity.
Effect on humans
Possible changes to muscular, skeletal and circulatory systems.
Data from microgravity investigations indicates that, following a crisis period of 30 days, human biology generally adapts to new gravitational conditions by the 90 day mark. An exception to this seems to be the skeletal system which continues to deteriorate in microgravity. On average a person loses about 1.5% of the bone mass in certain body parts - such as the hips and lower back - for every month in microgravity. That is about the same amount of bone mass that a post-menopausal woman loses in a year.
The longest time a human has spent in microgravity is 748 days. That record was achieved by Sergei Krikalev while commanding the International Space Station.
Effect on plants
Plants might grow differently.
Engineering effects
Unpressurized structures can be made with lower strength materials.
Mars Gravity Biosatellite
The Mars Gravity Biosatellite Program is working to design and build a near-Earth orbit satellite that will support 15 mice for 5 weeks in simulated Martian gravity. The primary science objectives are to observe bone, muscle, and neurovestibular adaptations. A launch date has not been set.
- The web site for the project is http://www.marsgravity.org/
