Summary
Highlights
With destruction on Earth, humans are looking for new homes, and Mars is a prime candidate. However, Mars is not as perfect as Earth, and humans will face many challenges adapting to its environment.
The first challenge on Mars is the lack of oxygen (0.13%) and abundant carbon dioxide (96%). Oxygen can be brought from Earth or produced on Mars by extracting it from CO2 using machines like NASA's MOXIE.
Low atmospheric pressure and high radiation on Mars can severely damage human organs. Spacesuits and pressurized buildings are essential, or living underground could provide protection from the harsh environment and extreme temperatures.
Mars's gravity is 38% lower than Earth's, requiring training to walk without stumbling. Spacesuits will also protect against unpredictable and powerful dust storms, keeping inhabitants warm during winters when temperatures can drop to -55°C.
The unavailability of food due to lack of fertile soil, sunlight, and water can be solved using hydroponics. Water can be sourced by digging from vast reserves of water ice beneath the Martian surface.
For long-term habitation, Mars needs to be terraformed. Greenhouse gases, which cause pollution on Earth, could be used to warm Mars, create a thicker atmosphere, and evaporate locked water, leading to rain and snow. After approximately a thousand years, enough oxygen might be present for humans to breathe freely.
The first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars was the Viking Landers in 1976.