By the end of this decade, humanity plans to return to the Moon. But this journey is causing heated debate: perhaps it is worth skipping the Moon in favor of Mars? A consortium of American scientists and engineers has published a report explaining the importance of traveling to the Red Planet. The scientists’ main argument is that this is a unique opportunity to answer humanity’s age-old question: “Are we alone in the Universe?
Scientific mission: searching for answers
The report highlights 11 key scientific objectives, including: studying the planet’s geology, assessing human survivability, and searching for resources for future colonies.
The authors propose a specific scenario for the first campaign: sending a crew for 30 Earth days, followed by delivery of cargo so that subsequent astronauts can remain there for up to 300 days. This is considered the most appropriate approach for beginning a systematic study of the planet.
Radiation and biological threats
However, the path to realizing this dream is extremely difficult. Scientists have identified the main threats that astronauts will face on Mars.
- Cosmic radiation. Long journeys outside the Earth’s magnetic field pose serious health risks to astronauts, as confirmed by numerous studies.
- Biological contamination. There is a possibility of introducing Earth microbes, which could destroy local life, if it exists.
Scientists note that NASA should develop strict protection protocols for exploring potentially habitable regions.
When will the flight to Mars take place?
The timing remains uncertain. Elon Musk has stated that Starship could be sent to Mars by 2029-2031. But his optimism often outpaces reality. Experts believe that decades of preparation may still be needed. However, the scientific community believes that this journey is worth all the effort.
“The first human landing on Mars will be the most important moment in history since the Moon. Our report puts science at the center of what will be an outstanding achievement,” concluded Linda T. Elkins-Tanton, co-chair of the report preparation committee.
According to arstechnica.com
