Chapter 1: Understanding Mars' Atmosphere

Recently, a subscriber posed an intriguing question:

"Hello! It's evident that the Martian atmosphere isn't suitable for human respiration, but what if I tried to take a deep breath there?"

While this question might seem trivial, it’s often the seemingly pointless inquiries that yield the most fascinating insights. Thus, I felt compelled to address it.

In essence, attempting to inhale the air on Mars would be futile, regardless of your efforts.

The atmospheric pressure on Mars is roughly 0.5% of what it is at sea level on Earth. This fact may catch many by surprise. Notably, the human body lacks muscles that actively pull air in. Instead, our lungs serve as air reservoirs. When we inhale, the volume of our lungs expands, causing a drop in internal lung pressure. This pressure difference allows external air to flow in.

To successfully breathe, a pressure of at least 40-45% of normal atmospheric pressure is required. Breathing difficulties typically arise when atmospheric pressure falls to around 60% of standard levels. Our respiratory system is incapable of drawing in the sparse Martian air. In fact, when you attempt to inhale, the air from your lungs would quickly escape into the Martian atmosphere, equalizing the pressure inside and outside the lungs.

You might assume that once the pressures equalize, breathing would be possible. However, there’s a critical catch: along with the air, essential water vapor would also escape, vital for the health of lung tissue. Consequently, an individual would likely perish before even attempting to take a breath.

Suppose our hypothetical subject is determined enough to create an Earth-like atmosphere in a sealed room using a compressor. In this case, nothing (barring common sense) would prevent them from entering and taking a breath.

Mars' atmosphere is composed of 95% carbon dioxide, which becomes toxic to humans when levels exceed 4%. However, one breath would not result in immediate harm; it might lead to nausea, dizziness, or severe headaches. Yet, if someone were to remain in that environment and take multiple breaths, it could lead to increased blood acidity, causing convulsions, loss of consciousness, and ultimately death. Please, do not attempt this.

In the video titled "What If You Spent 5 Seconds on Mars?", experts discuss the implications of even a brief exposure to Mars' environment.

Another informative video, "Is There Oxygen on Mars? We Asked a NASA Technologist," explores the oxygen levels on Mars and their impact on potential human life.

If you want to see more articles about space, please clap!

Subscribe to our channel and feel free to ask your questions, which I will address in future articles.

If you appreciate my work, consider supporting me by becoming a member on Medium for just $5 a month, helping us produce even better content.