Mars: The New Potential Home For Humans

To Fulfill the demand for the exponential growth of human needs, we are finding some alternative as earth cannot be our permanent address forever. Research led us to the proof that Mars surface conditions and past existence of liquid water make it a potential future address for human colonization; though it’s challenging concept. It is a back old theory that has been shown in movies like “Red Planet” (2000), “Mission to Mars” (2000), “The Martian” (2015) that keep the imagination to live on Mars alive among us.

Before starting colonization we have to figure out how we will survive on Mars! Many researchers focus on the poles of Mars, which were believed to be deposited with a large amount of water ice that could be turned into liquid water after extraction. The Poles are also thought to be contained to have a lot of natural resources like CO₂, H₂, methanol, iron, silicon, aluminum, and sulfur. To check the suitability of these resources scientists over the world suggest sending robots instead of a human to start the construction of immediate facilities. The EPFL, a Switzerland university, and a research center came up with a step by step plan to create a sustainable research facility on Mars. By taking one step ahead scientists are now planning a long-awaited trip to the Red Planet. Both privet (including Space X, Boeing) and public organization, space agencies (including NASA, National Space Administration) has committed to take steps forward to make a permanent human presence on Mars.

Why MARS???

The composition, size, and surface gravity of Mars are similar to that of Earth, these similarities make Mars the most hospitable planet in solar planet. The other similarities that make the colonization compatible are:

1.Martian Day (24 hrs, 39 minutes and 35 sec) is much similar to that of Earth.

2.Earth is tilled to 23.44° to its axis where Mars has a tilt of 25.19° that makes possible of similar season change.

3.Recent observations by space rovers have confirmed the presence of water ice on Mars.

Why it's still on Pen and Paper?

The reality of Mars is entirely different, no matter how interesting and mind blowing its sound. The soil of this planet is full of dry rock with Lots of irons and carbon dioxide. The ultrathin atmosphere (near about 100 times of earth atmosphere) makes it vulnerable to the UV rays exposer from the sun that can cause a severe burn on human skin. The average temperature of Mars is -65°C which is near about the lowest temperature recorded in Antarctica. It has no rain and the absence of the cloud makes it permanently sunny.

The surface gravity of Mars is near about 38% of that of earth, this issue can be proven serious as it might arise the problems of muscle loss and demineralization from bone that makes the bones brittle. Also, the absence of a strong magnetic field will not provide the shield against the solar storm. Its atmosphere is toxic as it contained 95% CO₂, 3% N₂, 1.6% of argon and only 0.4% of O₂.

With all these major challenges, the human voyage for a new home is unstoppable and will come up with new solutions to pave the way of colonization in Mars in next few decaeds.