Does life exist beyond Earth? Mars had conditions suitable for life in its past. Future exploration could uncover evidence of life because, Mars is a rich destination for scientific discovery and robotic and human exploration as we expand our presence into the solar system. Its formation and evolution are comparable to Earth, helping us learn more about our own planet’s history and future. While robotic explorers have studied Mars for more than 40 years, NASA’s path for the human exploration of Mars begins in low-Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station. Astronauts on the orbiting laboratory are helping us prove many of the technologies and communications systems needed for human missions to include Mars. The space station also advances our understanding of how the body changes in space and how to protect astronaut health. Keep in mind that when it comes to human missions to Mars, NASA’s preparation has already lasted for 70 years straight.
So why aren’t we already planning to go to Mars? The delay is at least in part technical. A trip to the red planet is like visiting an even more inhospitable Antarctica, and its unbreathable atmosphere is less than two percent of what you’d find at Everest’s summit. Not to mention the fact that you have to fly at least a year, round-trip, to get there in the first place. That’s why the space agency has been helping promote the film “The Martian,” as a way to publicize its own plans to send astronauts to the Red Planet in 2030. They need to get the general public excited about space travel to create a hype around their plans. Jim Green, director of NASA’s Planetary Science division, said on Oct. 1, “The evolution of a Martian starts with our science — starts with our ground-truth that we get from our rovers — and it builds up to human exploration,” at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, during an event focusing on “The Martian” and the space agency’s Red Planet plans. This trip to Mars has become a useless dream for many Americans due to the duration of it. 70 years is a long time for the public to stay focused and support a trip to Mars especially when many supports are beginning to lose hope. What do you think about a trip to Mars? Would you be willing to go?
http://www.space.com/30733-the-martian-nasa-real-mars-mission-plans.html#sthash.FsB867ix.dpuf
http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasas-journey-to-mars
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/11/151111-mars-mission-fail-history-astronaut-science/
I remember last fall when NASA’s Curiosity Rover discovered liquid water on Mars. The news was exciting because where there is water, there might be life. Who knows what we could encounter once we send people up there!
I like the pictures on your blog! I like how you mentioned the details on what it is like on Mars’ surface and that the air is unbreathable; comparing it to Antarctica puts a lot of things into perspective. I haven’t seen “The Martian” yet, but as I was writing my own blog on this, I thought of that movie a lot and how it seems to be so similar to what NASA is trying to do. 70 yeas is definitely a long time to be planning this, but it makes sense since there are so amny things that could go wrong when you’re 249 million miles away from your home.
I really like the point you made about NASA hoping to gain interest through the movie “the Martian”. I think that makes it more relatable to the general public, and really puts things in perspective. I found your post to be really thorough.