The journey to Mars is, without a doubt, very interesting from the scientific perspective, but right now, it’s more of a test process. A year-long stay of a human in a dangerous space environment, far from the Earth, will help correctly assess the risks, and appropriate preventative precautions, including the health ones. The acquired experience will help humanity with space research, and maybe even colonising distant planets.

The significant risks for astronauts include cosmic rays and radiation, toxic gases, and substances that can irreversibly damage haematopoietic stem cells. It will become a necessity for astronauts to have their stem cells collected and safely preserved stem cells, that will be stored in the spaceship, in interstation, and even at home, on the blue planet Earth.