Tala Yasinpoor TPO 50 Writing Practice mode Back Continue Integrated Writing 00 05 Time Scientists are considering the possibility of sending humans to Mars in the coming decades Although there have been successful manned missions to the Moon in the 1960s

The reading passage presents some problems with the manned Mars trip indicating
that such an effort would be impossible. Nevertheless, the lecturer finds the
putative reasons stated by the reading passage fallacious and debunks them one by
one by providing some solutions.
First of all, the writer contends that the long distance between Earth and Mars
would cause a problem for supplying food, water and oxygen due to the fact that
the limited space of space vehicles makes it impossible to carry such amount of
supplies. Conversely, the lecturer brings up the idea that by the hydroponics
method this problem can be addressed. This is a technique by which not only is it
possible to cultivate plants in a little space to produce food, absorb carbon dioxide
and release oxygen, but also it can provide astronauts with water supplies by
recycling waste water. By this technique, water, oxygen and food supply would not
be a problem anymore.
Secondly, the reading passage holds the view that the zero-gravity environment
would have detrimental effects on the muscle mass and bone density of astronauts
in the long run. By contrast, the speaker accentuates the fact that some astronauts
have already spent some months in space stations with zero-gravity condition, and
the harmful effects of it can be avoided just by several techniques including regular
exercise and taking vitamin and calcium pills. Thus, the zero-gravity condition
would not be an obstacle to manned travel to Mars, if astronauts use these
methods.
Finally, yet importantly, the passage alleges that in the absence of the magnetic
field of Earth, astronauts would be exposed to dangerous levels of space radiation,
which is inevitable considering the weight of possible protections. Contrary to this,
the professor disproves this issue regarding the fact that astronauts would not be in
the exposure of dangerous radiation all the time. It will happen occasionally, so
they can build a small protection of light weight, monitor the radiations, and
survive under the small shield when it is needed.