For years, NASA has set an ambitious goal: to send humans to Mars by 2035.The manned mission would involve a six- to seven-month journey to Mars and another six months to return to Earth. Astronauts could spend up to 500 days on the surface of the Red Planet, collecting valuable scientific data.
Scientists are very interested in Mars because of geological and atmospheric characteristics. The planet formed about 4.6 billion years ago and once had a thicker atmosphere and abundant liquid water. Scientists believe that Mars had oceans, lakes, and rivers, but today it is dry, with no liquid water on its surface.
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Robotic missions have returned important information about the planet to Earth, but many unanswered questions remain. The northern and southern hemispheres of Mars display stark contrasts. Astronomers have seen that Mars is home to some of the largest volcanoes in the solar system, and its surface is covered in craters created by asteroid impacts. A human mission will help better study these features of Mars to understand the planet's early history and its potential to support life.
What questions need to be answered by sending humans to Mars?
NASA scientists want to plan future human missions with some key questions in mind. The most important is whether there is life on Mars today. Experts have long been searching for signs of life, given that Earth and Mars had similar conditions many years ago.
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Another important question relates to how Mars lost its abundant liquid water and much of its atmosphere.
NASA is preparing for the mission to Mars by first sending humans to the Moon as part of the Artemis program. The Artemis will serve as training for Mars exploration, allowing astronauts to live and work on the Moon for months. NASA will use the knowledge and experience gained from the lunar mission to develop the technologies and skills needed for a successful mission to Mars.
Already, the Artemis I mission in November 2022 was a success. The uncrewed mission was successfully launched via the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft. It orbited the Moon and returned safely to Earth. The first crewed mission, Artemis III, is scheduled for 2026 and is said to land astronauts on the Moon's south pole.
Astronauts will create habitats on the lunar surface by mining and purifying water from underground ice. This experience will be critical for the exploration of Mars, which will require similar survival techniques. Although sending humans to Mars is still a decade away, NASA's continued progress with the Artemis program gives us hope for the successful transport of astronauts to the red planet.
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In July, NASA wrapped up a year-long Mars simulation experiment . On June 25, 2023, four volunteers began the simulation program by entering a Mars-like habitat. For a year, they were there, experiencing the conditions and challenges astronauts will face on the red planet every day . The four volunteers conducted scientific experiments , practiced virtual Marswalks , and grew some of their own food, bringing back some greenery from Earth.
NASA plans to conduct two more year-long experiments at the habitat. The next mission will launch in the spring of 2025.
Source: www.firstpost.com
