Sending humans to Mars has been a dream of scientists and a large part of the population ever since Nicolaus Copernicus first postulated that it was a planet, about 500 years ago. Even before that first Soviet satellite, Sputnik 1, was sent into orbit some 64 years ago, a mission to Mars has been the subject of many science fiction articles and books. Over the past half-century technological advances have just about overtaken the fictional aspects of getting to Mars. Each year we get closer and closer to actually assembling a real system that can carry people to the “Red Planet.”
Today, several government and private organizations are seriously developing plans to send astronauts toward the planet. In fact, there are multiple interesting approaches to such a mission. One of these approaches has been proposed by the now defunct Inspiration Mars Foundation, a nonprofit that hoped to send a married couple on a flyby of the planet. The foundation was founded by Dennis Tito in 2013, when he suggested that the flight would take place either in 2018 or 2021, two of the Mars launch window opportunities. However, experts concluded that the financial, systems and life support challenges made this time table highly unrealistic. The foundation closed its doors in 2015. Even without a touch down on the planet, the mission would have taken roughly 500 days and a direct return to Earth would require an atmospheric entry speed of about 13.9 km/sec, which is well above any previous entry speed for a crewed vehicle.
Another organization, known as Mars One, a Dutch nonprofit that wanted to establish a permanent Mars colony, was formed in 2012 and received tens of millions of dollars from investors. The initial proposed mission was to involve landing four astronauts on Mars’ surface at an estimated cost of $6 billion. The group hoped to fund the venture by staging a global media event that highlights every aspect of the mission from astronaut selection to planetary surface activities. It is important to note that no one was supposed to return to Earth, but Mars One intended to launch additional settlers every two years. Even with this constraint, more than 200,000 people applied. Nevertheless, the organization filed for bankruptcy in 2019.
SpaceX and Tesla founder, Elon Musk, remains focused on his vision: Establish a permanent human presence on Mars, using Starship rockets carrying people to and from the red planet. And, eventually building a city on Mars that will house a spacefaring civilization of a multi-planet species. In late 2012, he announced ideas addressing how to make it happen. Mr. Musk proposed launching colonists onboard a huge, reusable launch vehicle using liquid oxygen and methane. Each settler in a small initial group of about 10 would be charged $500,000. Eventually, he envisions a self-sustaining settlement with as many as 80,000 settlers. Just last year, Musk said he’s “highly confident” SpaceX will launch people toward the Red Planet in 2026.
NASA is also looking to Mars. Getting astronauts to the Red Planet is the primary long-term goal of the Space Agency’s human spaceflight program. Currently, the space agency is looking for paid volunteers to spend a year living in “Mars Dune Alpha,” a Martian habitat based at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston. Successful applicants will simulate a Martian exploration mission including spacewalks. At the same time, NASA’s human lunar exploration plans, under Artemis, call for sending the first woman and first person of color to the surface of the Moon and establishing sustainable exploration by the end of this decade. The agency will use what is learned on the Moon to prepare for the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.
All of these efforts are ambitious, very expensive and hazardous to the travelers. Nevertheless, it seems clear that humanity will find a way to Mars and beyond.
Related Links
Launchspace
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more
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Humans on Mars: Pathways toward sustainable settlement
Bremen, Germany (SPX) Jul 07, 2022
Is sustainable human exploration of Mars possible? How will humans affect the new environment? Around 60 researchers from the University of Bremen and other institutes are investigating these questions as part of an initiative.
On July 8, 2022, the University of Bremen is set to launch its large-scale initiative “Humans on Mars – Pathways Toward a Long-Term Sustainable Exploration and Settlement of Mars.” Around 60 researchers from eight faculties are working together to address the question of ho … read more