Space flights to other planets have long been a fixture of science fiction, and in 2017 the fiction appeared to come closer to reality when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced it was prioritizing eventual piloted missions to Mars and other planets. (2) It may be too soon to start planning your Martian vacation, however: there are good reasons to doubt that humans will be able to undertake long-distance space flights in the foreseeable future.
(3) For example, the body loses muscle mass and bone density in low-gravity environments because the pressure of Earth’s atmosphere is removed. (4) Astronauts struggle to walk after six months in space; the effects of a three-year flight and a stay on Mars would be far greater. (5) Nevertheless, humans have a natural cycle of wakefulness and sleep attuned to daytime and nighttime on Earth. (6) Anyone who has experienced jet lag can attest to the mental and physical effects of disrupting this cycle, but we can only imagine the consequences of disrupting it for years.
(7) It is true that monitoring, exercise, and technological fixes like sunlight-simulating LED lights have shown some promise for diminishing these problems. (8) Other issues may be more troublesome. (9) Space missions are stressful, requiring long hours of repetitive activity performed in small, sterile spaces. (10) The stress lowers immune response even as outer-space conditions cause microbes in astronauts’ bodies to mutate, potentially resulting in unfriendly diseases. (11) Unless scientists can develop effective means of fighting these health risks, long-distance space travel may be too dangerous.
(12) With NASA’s attention directed to the problems of long space missions, it is certain that scientists will come up with creative solutions to the elevated risks to human well-being in space much as they have addressed dangers associated with shorter missions. (13) But it is also probable that further research will turn up new problems that have not even been identified yet. (14) It is thus likely that for many years to come, the only way for humans to have a first-hand experience exploring distant planets will be opening a book or going to the movies rather than hopping on a rocket.
Question
The writer wants to add an additional body paragraph to support the passage’s argument. Which of the following claims would make the best topic for such a paragraph?
Responses
Being able to make longer space missions will enable researchers to learn more about our universe.
Being able to make longer space missions will enable researchers to learn more about our universe.
Extending our explorations of space to longer distances will help further our understanding of how the human body functions and help medicine develop new cures for conditions here on Earth.
Extending our explorations of space to longer distances will help further our understanding of how the human body functions and help medicine develop new cures for conditions here on Earth.
New technology will need to be developed in order to achieve the goal of longer space travel, which means that new jobs will be created in the technological and research sectors.
New technology will need to be developed in order to achieve the goal of longer space travel, which means that new jobs will be created in the technological and research sectors.
Developing the ability to safely travel longer distances in space may provide us with opportunities not only to identify and utilize new resources that can be used to improve life on Earth but also to eventually create viable space colonies, which could help alleviate overpopulation and the effects of a large population on the Earth’s climate.
Developing the ability to safely travel longer distances in space may provide us with opportunities not only to identify and utilize new resources that can be used to improve life on Earth but also to eventually create viable space colonies, which could help alleviate overpopulation and the effects of a large population on the Earth’s climate.
Long-term missions would also create social and psychological issues, such as extreme isolation and loneliness, that may have a negative impact on space travelers.