Mars seems to be on everyone's mind these days. By 2030, NASA wants humans on the red planet, and SpaceX seeks to do it even sooner, with a goal of having people there by 2024.
On Mars, the atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide, the surface is too cold for humans to survive, and the planet's gravity is just 38% that of Earth's. A Mars' atmosphere is about 1% the size of the atmosphere of Earth.
Signs of Life on Mars
Some microbes from Earth might survive on Mars, at least temporarily, raising new questions and possibilities for future exploration of the red planet.
"Some microbes, in particular spores from the black mold fungus, were able to survive the trip, even when exposed to very high (ultraviolet) radiation" Marta Filipa
NASA recruits explorers for a Mars simulation on Earth
The closest thing to Mars we'll have on Earth is a NASA mission to house four crew members in a 1,700-square-foot 3D-printed habitat for a year.
A total of three analog missions will be conducted by NASA without ever leaving the planet. As a result, the analogs will support research to develop methods and technologies for preventing and resolving potential problems on future human spaceflight missions to the moon and Mars.
Can Humans Survive on Mars
The atmosphere on Mars is mostly made of carbon dioxide. As it is also 100 times thinner than Earth's atmosphere, even if it had a similar composition, humans would not be able to breathe it.
A complex life-support system would be needed for human survival on Mars.
The Apollo astronauts could fly to the moon in just a few days, but a trip to Mars would take anywhere between six to nine months.
The best way to keep a Mars habitat self-sustaining is to keep food and medicine supplies stocked, but it may be difficult to grow anything with a thin atmosphere and limited sunlight. Artificial leaves designed to work in harsh conditions could offer the first-aid solution.
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