What is one of the main challenges addressed by bioastronautics?

Bioastronautics focuses on understanding the biological and physiological challenges that humans face during space travel. One of the main issues that arises in this context is the effects of space environment, particularly radiation, on the human body. In space, astronauts are exposed to higher levels of cosmic radiation than they would encounter on Earth, which can lead to various health risks, including increased cancer risk, central nervous system effects, and potential damage to other bodily systems.

Studying these effects is crucial for ensuring the health and safety of astronauts during missions, especially for long-duration flights to destinations such as Mars. This field seeks to understand how radiation impacts different biological systems and develop appropriate countermeasures to protect astronauts. Such research is integral to designing safer missions and ensuring sustainable human presence beyond Earth.

The other options, while relevant to space exploration, pertain to different aspects of space missions. Designing rockets and developing new propulsion systems focus more on engineering and technology for spacecraft, while improving space suits pertains specifically to protective gear rather than the broader biological challenges that bioastronautics addresses.