How an All-Female Crew Could Save Millions on Space Missions : ESA Study
A recent study suggests that an all-female crew should lead the space missions to Mars due to the advantages women have in space.
The study found that female astronauts have lower water requirements for hydrogen, total energy expenditure, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide, and metabolic heat production during space exploration missions.
An all-female crew would free up 8 cubic feet of space in the capsule because of their smaller stature, according to the study.
A four-member all-female crew would require 1695 kg less food weight on a 1080-day mission, which could save over $158 million.
Crewmembers' health and ability to perform mission tasks can be affected by physiological changes induced by prolonged microgravity in space.
Women were able to perform countermeasure exercises as well as men in space, according to the study.
The cost of getting payloads to the International Space Station (ISS) is $93,400 per kg, according to NASA.
NASA and other space agencies should focus on all-female astronaut crews for long space missions, according to the study.
The female form is the most efficient body type for space exploration when considering the limited space, energy, weight, and life support system packed into a spacecraft on a long mission.
The study highlights the potential benefits of all-female astronaut crews for long space missions, including reduced resource requirements and increased efficiency.
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