Astronauts who set out for Mars would face catastrophic wasting of their muscles, researchers have revealed.
A new study warns that astronauts could lose up to half their muscle strength during a three year mission to Mars.
They would then have trouble performing routine work and would be physically weak once they returned to earth’s gravity, according to the study in the Journal of Physiology.
Professor Robert Fitts has issued his warned after a study of nine astronauts who spent time on the International Space Station.
The study found no clues as to how astronauts could keep fit enough to combat the effects of zero gravity during long space flight.
It found that the fittest astronauts suffered the greatest decline in muscle strength.
Professor Fitts, of Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, calls for more work to be done on the Space Station to find ways of maintaining muscle strength.
He said: "Manned missions to Mars represent the next frontier, as the Western Hemisphere of our planet was 800 years ago.
"Without exploration we will stagnate and fail to advance our understanding of the Universe."
‘Prolonged Space Flight-Induced Alterations in the Structure and Function of Human Skeletal Muscle Fibres.’ Robert H. Fitts, Scott W. Trappe, David L. Costill, Phillip M. Gallagher, Andrew C. Creer, Patricia A. Colloton, James R. Peters, Janell G. Romatowski, James L. Bain, and Danny A. Riley. The Journal of Physiology September 15 2010; volume 588 issue 18.
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