Easier and cheaper as it is, … Therefore, if the system designed for the Mars exploration have flaws, then it could lead to disasters. The mission to colonize Mars runs into three major challenges. is at least some gravity. As Neil Armstrong once said, the beginning of the mission will be “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”. Thus, for decades and perhaps longer, it will be necessary, and forever desirable, for Mars to be able to import specialized manufactured goods from Earth. The space agency also says that scientific advancements that humanity gains from such a … It’s a Challenge. Y esterday a lot of people watched Elon Musk revealing some of his plans on colonization of Mars at the International Astronautical Congress. The hypothetical colonization of Mars has received interest from public space agencies and private corporations, and has received extensive treatment in science fiction writing, film, and art. The discovery of water was very important since it indicated possibility of life on Mars, and further implies that the Earth is not the only planet where living being exists. Privacy Notice, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20130312.html​, www.blog.ansi.org/2016/10/the-benefits-of-colonizing-mars/​, www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects-2017.html​, www.inverse.com/article/21156-elon-musk-says-spacex-could-start-a-mars-colony-by-2026​, www.space.com/31732-space-shuttle-challenger-disaster-explained-infographic.html​, Schulich Library of Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Engineering, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 Canada License. The Red has vast reserves of water in the form of ice. NASA warns people that a human mission to Mars will be difficult and the potential for disaster is a high. There are also the effects that microgravity have on the human body. Recently, Mars became a popular topic again due to success of SpaceX, a private aerospace company which aims to reduce cost of space transportation and colonize Mars. Curiosity site – the Gale Crater, which is close to the equator – typical That money could be put to better use fighting the rising national debt, … (Venus location on the inner edge (combined with its thick atmosphere) has led to it becoming the hottest planet in the Solar System. read more Since then, many space agencies around the globe have sent their probes and rovers to collect more information about Mars. By Allison Eck Friday, March 16, 2018 NOVA Next NOVA Next An MIT team designed the Redwood Forest, a … Yes, we must try to keep Earth a habitable place. If a colonization of Mars begins, then there is a possibility that these issues on Mars will be prioritized over earthbound issues on Earth such as disease, climate change, war, social and economic inequality. nighttime temperatures are as low as -70 °C. In general, colonizing the Moon is a huge stepping stone to expand to Mars… Colonizing Mars: Problems and Benefits The idea of a human mission to the Martian planet has been capturing the imagination of the scientific community and popular culture for decades, manifesting itself in cinema, literature, and art. A day on Mars is 24 hours and 39 minutes, which means that organisms from earth would find it similar. This would be the most monumental achievement in our history to date and would likely be a point in history we would never forget. In addition, Mars is closer to Earth than the other Solar planets – except for Venus, but we all know why this planet isn’t a good option! In fact, every few years when the Earth and Mars are at opposition – when they are closest to each other – the distance varies, making certain “launch windows” ideal for sending colonists. For more details on this topic, see space colonization. More habitable worlds than Mars have been discovered outside our solar system. Mars exists within our Sun’s habitable zone (aka. This would be the most monumental achievement in our history to date and would likely be a point in history we would never forget. 2 It cost too much. Mars and Earth have very similar lengths of days. temperatures around the equator at midday can reach a balmy 20 °C, at the Nevertheless, even with optimistic extrapolation of robotic manufacturing techniques, Mars will not have the division of labor required to make it fully self-sufficient until its population numbers in the millions. As a side effect, it causes weakness of bone and muscle, motion sickness, fluid redistribution and more. Another element that creates risk is the human factor. Mars, also known as the Red Planet, have caught many scientists’ and engineers’ attention after rovers sent by NASA have found evidence of water on the planet in 2012. NASA/JPL via Getty Images. Despite the aforementioned benefits, there are also some rather monumental The magnetosphere is a magnetic field created by … A colony on Mars is something dreamed about by many, and criticized by many more. These goods can be fairly limited in m… As we all know, we face many serious environmental problems. However, little is done to solve those problems in time. But permanent settlers would still have to contend Colonizing Mars would have other benefits as well, he added; the effort would greatly advance science discoveries and technological capabilities, and it … Naturally, these losses would be lower on the surface of Mars, where there Even if Mars is a lifeless planet, whether it’s ethical to colonize Mars may depend on what kinds of consequences the mission has here on Earth. Mine water ice. Moon: Benefits and Challenges of Colonizing Moon, How can we colonize Mars? 'Growing Pains' star slams Kirk Cameron's caroling protests He wants humans to colonize Mars—stat. – Science Fiction or Reality. 2016, www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace​. Reasons to colonise Mars instead of the Moon: * Less rocket fuel needed to land due to the atmosphere being thick enough to aerobrake. The issue in today’s world is that there are several issues with setting up a colony that seems to prove it as an impossibility for it to occur in the near future. Dunbar, Brian. For starters, there is the matter of Another important impact of a Mars colonization would be scientific research. Tate, Karl. The Benefits of Colonizing Space: Space Habitats and The O’Neill Cylinder ... Mars One graphics. Science Benefits From Diverse Landing Area of NASA Mars Rover PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Curiosity rover is revealing a great deal about Mars, from long-ago processes in its interior to the current interaction between the Martian surface and atmosphere. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, believes colonizing Mars “i​s potentially something that could be accomplished in about 10 years, maybe sooner, maybe 9 years.” ​But despite all the efforts to make Mars colonization true, how can this benefits our society? And there are some problems we may never be able to solve, such as kick-starting Mars’ magnetosphere. the average surface temperature, which is anything but hospitable. Colonizing Mars is one of the most promising backup plans for humanity. A big thank you to Steve Lee and Anthony Johansen for submitting their Engineering Professional Practice (FACC 400) blog post to The Turret. The idea of colonizing Mars has been explored at length, in fiction and as a real possibility. According to a NASA report, the effects of zero-gravity on the human body are quite profound, with a loss of up to 5% muscle mass a week and 1% of bone density a month. The third category questions the Mars mission’s impact on the solar system and that space junk could disrupt gravitational balances. Instead, let us note the benefits that can come from interplanetary colonization, even for those of us who decide to stay on the Earth’s surface. For example, since 1976 NASA has published a report every year called ​Spinoff which features new technologies based on research done by NASA. The economics of colonizing Mars . Anthony Johansen – U2 Software Engineering student. The hottest housing market of 2020. “The Human Body in Space.” ​NASA​, NASA, 30 Mar. The Advantages of Going to Mars From a Scientific Point of View. Kelechava, Brad. Make no mistake, getting to Mars is probably the biggest challenge humanity has … For example, on Jan 28, 1986, crews of the NASA’s space shuttle Challenger were killed during the launch due to failure of O-rings that seals the booster. But what are the challenges and benefits of making Mars a "backup location" for humanity? A day on Mars is 24 hours and 39 minutes, which means that organisms from earth would find … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We must slow down global warming and reverse it back, if possible. Colonizing Mars: Problems and Benefits The idea of a human mission to the Martian planet has been capturing the imagination of the scientific community and popular culture for decades, manifesting itself in cinema, literature, and art. Do you want to learn more?Check out our last post: How can we colonize Mars? Space, 28 Jan. 2016, www.space.com/31732-space-shuttle-challenger-disaster-explained-infographic.html​. Many engineers and scientists, try to make fault tolerant equipments, but sometimes a tiny little mistakes could result a great disaster. The … Mars and Venus are no more likely to be terraformed in the next 100 years than is Pluto. As humans attempt to reach further and further into space, new and innovative advances in technology and science are required in order for us to reach these new heights. Our species, and perhaps all sentient species that develop, is facing what can be considered a series of tests. The real wild card for long-term health is the low gravity. Space colonization is a controversial topic for some people, though definitely not for me, and for a number … The first, and most notable way, is that a colony on Mars would mark the first interplanetary settlement in human history. And while there were a lot of exciting technical details, some major issues I anticipated were not covered. Others have discussed microgravity’s effects on the human body, but Mars is not free-fall. Barnard´s Star – our fast moving neighbour, Alpha Centauri – our interstellar neighbour. Additionally, the world’s population growth have exponentially increased over the last centuries. Establishing a colony on Mars would benefit our society in a number of ways. Patel, Neel V. “SpaceX CEO Elon Musk Says His Company Could Have a Mars Colony by 2026.” ​Inverse​, www.inverse.com/article/21156-elon-musk-says-spacex-could-start-a-mars-colony-by-2026​. In the 1960’s, the U.S and Russian tensions were at an all-time high. Steve Lee – U3 Computer Engineering student About 95% of the planet’s atmosphere is carbon dioxide, which means that we have to produce breathable air for our habitats and settlers could only go out with a pressure suit and an oxygen bottle. As of 2016, there are over 1,920 products in the ​Spinoff database which can be attributed to advances made by NASA researchers. “NASA Rover Finds Conditions Once Suited for Ancient Life on Mars.” ​NASA​, NASA, 19 Nov. 2015, ​www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20130312.html​. Most of this ice is located in the polar regions, but surveys of Martian meteorites have suggested that much of it may also be locked away beneath the surface. “goldilocks zone“), (like our earth) though it is slightly towards its outer edge. Moon before Mars, but why? United Nations projects that the world’s population will reach 9.8 billion in year 2050 and 11.2 billion in year 2100. TRAPPIST-1, the system boasting seven planets which can all potentially support life, is 39 light years away. The cost of a manned mission to Mars would be 20+ billion dollars. That means if we were able to travel at the speed of light—a feat which is currently well beyond our reach, technologically—it would still take us 39 years to travel the 229 trillion miles. I’m sure he has his motives. An artist's conception of the Phoenix Mars lander on the red planet. There is a major possibility that a colony on another planet is the future of humanity. Many reasons. The first, and most notable way, is that a colony on Mars would mark the first interplanetary settlement in human history. Mars, Kelli. At this fast growing rate, there is no doubt that the society will suffer due to limited resources available on Earth. This proximity has several benefits: A lunar base could be a site for launching rockets with locally-manufactured fuel to distant planets such as Mars. Although there are risks associated to Mars colonization, there are many things that people can benefit from. Anyone traveling to Mars would need to follow a rigid exercise routine, and proper nutrient intake would be vital to minimize muscle and bone wasting that would occur in microgravity. Green energy is great. It was the height of the Things you can do on Mars with very modest industrial infrastructure: Produce propellant for return trips pretty much from day 1. "Only by pushing mankind to its limits, to the bottoms of the … Some of the main risks in regard to the colonization itself lie in the environment of Mars. After inhabiting oceans, it will be easier to colonize other planets. (Infographic).” ​Space.com​, Space Created with Sketch. However, colonization of Mars would leverage the problem by distributing the population of the Earth to Mars, and as well as improve the chances for mankind to survive in case the Earth is no longer sustainable. While challenges to colonizing the Red Planet. A well known example is the Infrared Ear Thermometer, initially this technology was designed to measure the temperature of stars and planets across large distances, however it was eventually adapted to be used as a way to record human body temperature without direct contact with the body. One major advantage of colonizing Mars is that it can be regarded as one of the most promising backup plans humanity has right now. To Understand Earth: Mars is the planet in our solar system that is most similar to Earth. Colonizing planet Mars will be the greatest achievement in human history to date, and it would likely be an achievement in our history that we will never forget. with the problems of muscle degeneration and osteoporosis in the long run. The first benefit is one of the main reasons why Elon Musk believes that we should colonize Mars: it would mark the beginning of … Experiments have shown that Mars soil could be baked into bricks to create protective structures, which would cut down on the amount of materials needed to be shipped to the surface. Having a colony on the nearest celestial body to Earth would be beneficial, because we would be able to conduct research, extract resources, develop and use new technologies. Produce Oxygen, water, methane, plastics, glass, concrete, iron/steel, aluminum, etc. Mars is the best target for colonization in the solar system because it has by far the greatest potential for self-sufficiency. In short, the challenges to creating a permanent settlement on Mars are numerous, but not necessarily impossible. It was mainly due to lack of experience launching the space shuttle in a specific environment, and lack of tests. This would make the process of colonizing it easier. There are several benefits associated with colonizing planet Mars, and the most notable one is that colonizing Mars will mark the first interplanetary settlement in our history. The red planet also has no global magnetic field comparable to Earth’s geomagnetic field. That, combined with its sulfuric acid rains makes Mars a much more attractive option). Colonizing Mars will lead to many positive outcomes—new technologies, economic advantages, more jobs, and ideas to avert the population crisis of the future. McGill Library Blogs are a production of the McGill Library. The gravity on Mars is also only about 40% of what we experience on Earth’s. Molly Wood and Kristin Schwab Oct 24, 2017. “World Population Projected to Reach 9.8 Billion in 2050, and 11.2 Billion in 2100 | UN DESA Department of Economic and Social Affairs.” ​United Nations​, United Nations, www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world-population-prospects-2017.html​. Combined with a thin atmosphere, so a significant amount of ionizing radiation is able to reach the Martian surface. This water could be extracted and purified for human consumption easily enough. Improving the quality of life on Earth. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 Canada License. Mars used to be a warm and wet planet like Earth, when Mars had a … And while we do our best to plan for and minimize those risks, there is always a possibility of something going wrong. “The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster: What Happened? One point, publicised the last few years by Stephen Hawking, is to prevent the potential extinction of the human race. Mars’ gravity is only 38 percent of that of the Earth and the difference affects greatly on human body. Mars and Earth have very similar lengths of days. Grow crops using local sunlight (the Moon has a 2 week long night). And if we decide to live on the Red Planet, as individuals and as a species, we will find creative ways to colonize Mars. “The Benefits of Colonizing Mars (Other Than Getting to Live There) – ANSI Blog.” ​The ANSI Blog,​ 4 Feb. 2019, www.blog.ansi.org/2016/10/the-benefits-of-colonizing-mars/​. As Mars does not have a very substantial atmosphere, the mars colonists would need to be protected not only from the extreme weather and temperatures that can occur on Mars but also from the radiation that penetrates the atmosphere. Three companies are in a race to colonize Mars: NASA, SpaceX, and Mars One. Firstly, there are many interesting similarities between Earth and Mars that make it a viable option for colonization. This guest post will have you thinking about a future society on Mars. * Has an atmosphere which can be used to produce Oxygen and rocket fuel to return home. Unfortunately, as with any kind of undertaking of this magnitude, there exists risks. A settlement on Mars would also prove that such an endeavor is possible and pave the way for future colonizations of other planets and moons, inside our solar system as well as out. What are the benefits and challenges of Colonizing Venus? First, likening a colony on Mars to life insurance is misleading. 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And that space junk could disrupt gravitational balances effects that microgravity have on the solar because!