MOSCOW, April 16. /TASS/. Scientists have three major mountains to climb if they want to make deep space trips, including to Mars, a reality, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with students.
"A mission to Mars is no easy feat. Today, this looks like a very distant goal. If you know anything about the subject, you are well aware of this. The first issue that needs to be resolved is how to carry out a long spaceflight that is at the same time safe. It will be a journey beyond near-earth orbits, to deep space. The intensity of [space] radiation will be different there," the president said.
The second major challenge is advancing communication technologies. "This is very important," Putin emphasized.
"The third task is to find a source of power for future facilities, including those that humanity plans to build on Mars," he added.
"In general, it’s a grandiose task, but an interesting one. I’m sure it will get more and more support," Putin said.