Can humans survive the hostile Martian environment?

Question

Not talking about the cold and lack of oxygen. Let's say what the hell, we'll colonize Mars with some kind of biosphere project or whatever.

Do the Mars atmosphere and magnetic field provide sufficient protection from stuff like radiation, cosmic rays, solar storms, gamma ray bursts, UV rays? Or will that stuff cook humans trying to make a go on Mars?

Answer 1

Probably not given that there appears to be the presence of superoxides in the soil which come about through impingement of high-energy radiation. As noted previously, design for habitats will probably involve soil-bunkered designs to provide insulation as well as radiation protection. I seem to remember one TV program on the Discovery Channels that suggested a form of concrete may end up being one of the best materials for construction on Mars as well as the Moon.

For temporary exposures, humans should be able to deal with the environment with existing technology. Another option is adapting magnetic shielding with static values to provide some protection against charged particles but limiting the effects caused by varying EM fields.

Answer 2

Well, Mars' magnetic field collapsed several billion years ago. The atmosphere is also very thin. So, unless we somehow account for these, humans would still be cooked by radiation. The biosphere structure itself could filter out some of these effects, but it would have to be specially designed for that.

Answer 3

More to the point, can the delicate Martian eco-system survive human beings and their wasteful, harmful, polluting way and the strange bacteria they will bring with them?

Perhaps the answer to the querion "Is there life on Mars?" in 100 years time will be "Well, there was, till we got there!" and when a latterday Neil Armstrong steps down from his ship and places his boot firm and square on the Martian surface, he should be saying "One small step for man, one jackboot heel for Mars!"