Fans of the National Geographic show “Mars” got excited after seeing what it would be like to colonize Mars. The actors depicted the potential challenges that the astronauts might face while living on the planet closest to our home, planet Earth. Another big fan of Mars is no other than Elon Musk. On many occasions, he reported that his most significant achievement would be to send people to invade the Red Planet.
With the new-found success of NASA’s rover “Perseverance,” we might be closer to discovering traces of fossilized microbial life. The data we’d collect would be just one of the things we need to consider before packing our bags and saying goodbye to the life we once knew.
The American astronomer Carl Sagan once said, “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” While waiting to see what the evidence might look like, read more about the difficulties we might face during our “possible” move to Mars.
Inhospitable Surface
Mars was once a planet similar to ours. Its early atmosphere was abundant in carbon dioxide allowing the creation of a greenhouse effect. The dry lake beds may show that they were filled with water at one time in the past. With the conditions taking a turn for the worse, the surface became dry and cold.
Credits: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars#/media/File:OSIRIS_Mars_true_color.jpg
The gruesome effects don’t allow living organisms to survive. Should we colonize the Red Plane, one difficulty we would face is food. One idea is to grow food under indoor artificial lighting and conditions.
Low Gravity
Due to the low gravity on Mars, 62% less than the one on Earth, our health might deteriorate should we colonize the planet. The difference between the gravities could take a negative toll on our bones and muscles.
People having cardiovascular problems might not be eligible for terraforming the Red Planet since the microgravity could affect their health. Also, the travel to Mars might take up to a year, leaving the passengers weak in muscle loss and bone mass.
Not Budget-Friendly
According to Elon Musk (Clifford 1), the trip to Mars could cost less than $500k per individual. He believes that the journey would be as affordable as buying a house on Earth. However, Mars One’s mission budget is more realistic and provides insights into different numbers.
The cost of colonizing Mars with the first four people could be almost $6 billion. The Mars One mission believes that this is the cost that’d cover the hardware and the operational expenditures.
Water Shortage
If humans were to invade Mars, they’d need water to survive. In recent years, research shows that layers of ice and sand existed beneath Mars’s north pole. The finding sparked hope for scientists and astronauts that survival could be possible.
The problem is that there is still no technology to extract water from the Red Planet’s soil. Bringing water from Earth is hardly likely, so different options are continually being explored. One thing is sure. Before planning the big “move,” the water shortage problem has to be resolved.
Before “Buying” a Ticket
Packing the suitcase may be the easiest “to do” thing on the list. Although, at this point, Mars is still an inhospitable planet, let’s assume you get a chance to go anyways. If you were to leave tomorrow, here are some useful tips to make your voyage and stay memorable.
Find space in your luggage for the following items:
- The travel time to the Red Planet may take up to a year. Bring books to kill time on the aircraft. Also, creating several playlists is highly recommended.
- Prepare yourself to invest your life savings into a ticket. Whether Musk will keep his promise or not, be ready to pay at least $500k for a one-way ticket.
- Wearing a spacesuit on Mars is a must. Should you exit your hotel or habitat without one, it will result in organ ruptures.
- Until scientists find a way to resolve the water shortage issue on the new planet, you have to bring enough liquids to stay hydrated.