What is the fate of the body of a person who dies in space?

“If you want to go to Mars, prepare to die,” said SpaceX President Elon Musk, at a time when humanity aspires to land on Mars. But the journey is fraught with dangers and may lead to many deaths, so what happens to the bodies? What happens if an astronaut dies on the way to or on Mars? The image is a simulation in which an astronaut appears on the surface of Mars. Twenty-one people have died since the first person launched into space, the Russian Yuri Gagarin, 60 years ago, according to what the German "DW" satellite quoted the British newspaper "Daily Mail" as saying. But as space agencies seek to send the first manned mission to Mars, astronaut deaths are expected to rise. Astronauts bound for the Red Planet will spend at least seven months in a capsule on a path not traveled by humans, and if they survive the journey to the Red Planet, they will They must endure the harsh environment of the Martian world. If a crew member dies, it may take months or years before the body is returned to Earth, which raises one question: What happens to the body of a person who dies in space? Suggested methodsExperts have suggested a number of ways to dispose of the body, Including launching it into dark space or burying a person on Mars with the condition that the remains are burned first so as not to contaminate the surface of the Red Planet. However, the worst case scenario presented by experts so far, is when the other astronauts run out of food and have none left. Something edible, which makes them have to eat the corpse of their comrade who died on the way. According to the American scientific magazine "Popular Science", NASA has not developed protocols to deal with deaths in space yet, but researchers in space sciences around the world have developed several ways Is it appropriate to "respectfully" dispose of an astronaut's corpse when he dies in space until the vehicle hits the ground. But freeze drying in space is very different from what happens on Earth, as the corpse must be placed outside the capsule, which will cause it to freeze in space. Freezing the corpse But if freezing the corpse is not possible, some experts suggest launching the dead body into space. Currently, there are no specific guidelines in planetary protection policy, either at the NASA level or internationally, that would address the issue of burial of a deceased astronaut by launching it into Space. Although launching the body into space is the easiest option, it will become trapped in the vehicle's path and remain exactly where it was left. But the problem is that if many missions choose this method, future rockets bound for Mars will fly through a sea of ​​corpses, experts say. Cremation and burial When astronauts reach Mars, they will face new life-threatening challenges, one of which is radiation. Previous data indicated that the Red Planet was exposed to 700 times more radiation than the Earth. And if an astronaut died on Mars, then burial there would be necessary, but NASA has strict laws about contaminating other planets with microbes from Earth. In terms of disposing of organic matter (including objects) on Mars, we would We do not impose any restrictions as long as all of Earth's microbes have been killed so cremation will be necessary. Cadavering! However, it is likely that not every dead astronaut will be buried, but his remains may be eaten so that others can survive. This idea is painful and barbaric, according to the Daily Mail, but experts recall what happened when a plane crashed in the Andes in 1972. Passengers had no food and no means of communication, so they made the difficult decision to eat those who died when the plane fell in order to live. Says the bioethicist Paul Wolpe: Although we owe a great deal of respect to the body, life is essential, and if the only way one can live is to eat the body, that is acceptable but not desirable.