00:00Imagine spending three years in space, away from Earth,
00:03aiming to be one of the first humans to set foot on Mars.
00:07Sounds exciting, right?
00:09But there's one major challenge that nobody talks about.
00:12This is Rosemary Coogan,
00:14a 33-year-old British astronaut selected from over 22,000 applicants in 2022.
00:21After an intense 18-month selection process and a year of basic training,
00:26Rosemary is ready for her first mission to the International Space Station.
00:30But her ultimate goal is to walk on Mars,
00:33a mission expected to take three years.
00:36And with such a long journey, the challenges are immense.
00:40One of the biggest challenges isn't just getting to Mars or landing on it safely.
00:45It's something more fundamental,
00:47keeping astronauts physically and mentally healthy for such a long duration in space.
00:52Unlike missions to the Moon that take a few days,
00:55a trip to Mars will take three years.
00:57Ensuring a sufficient supply of food, water, and medical equipment is crucial.
01:02Handling potential medical emergencies in the isolation of space
01:06is another significant concern.
01:08We already have rovers on Mars, but a human mission is a brand new frontier.
01:14Keeping astronauts physically and psychologically healthy
01:17for three years in a capsule is a huge challenge.
01:20Long-duration space travel can cause muscle loss,
01:23bone density reduction,
01:25and even vision problems due to changes in blood flow.
01:28The psychological strain of isolation and confinement is equally daunting.
01:33NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, who spent three 71 days in space,
01:38experienced significant physical changes.
01:41Readapting to Earth's gravity after such a long time was a challenge.
01:46Despite these challenges, Rosemary Coogan is undeterred.
01:50Her upcoming six-month mission to the International Space Station is just the beginning.
01:55With the goal set for the 2040s, Rosemary and her team
01:59are ready to push the boundaries of human exploration.
02:02Stay tuned for more updates on Rosemary's journey and the future of space exploration.
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