Reading Time: mins
Humans have long been excited by the thought of life elsewhere in the Universe. Mars is one of the only other places in our Solar System where we think life might be possible. This is an exciting reason to explore it and being so close to Earth makes this a little easier. Learning about Mars’ history can also help us learn about our own planet.Â
Robots have been exploring the red planet for many years but next we want to send humans. They can make decisions quicker and move around more easily making it easier to achieve our science goals.
Mars is our nearest neighbour in the Solar System, as such it is an obvious target for exploration. However, there are many more compelling scientific reasons to go to Mars. These include the search for extra-terrestrial life, understanding the surface and evolution of the planet, which in turn can teach us about our own planet too. As well as, preparing for human exploration in the future.Â
Trying to understand if life exists elsewhere in the Universe is a fundamental question humans have been puzzling over for a very long time. Mars seems a great place to search for evidence of microbial life existing now or in the past as it is the planet most similar to Earth in our Solar System. There is evidence that Mars was covered in water, warmer and had a thicker atmosphere, which all lead to the possibility of a habitable environment. Whereas today the planet is wrapped in a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere which is incompatible for any life as we know it. Additionally, methane gas is also present and the soil contains compounds toxic to earth-like life. Nowadays the water is locked in the planet’s icy polar caps and buried beneath the surface. Even if life hasn’t existed on Mars, can it help us learn about how life began on Earth or give us ideas about searching for life elsewhere in the Solar System?
There has been serious climate change on Mars. Planetary geologists study rocks, sediments and soils to understand the history of the martian surface. As well as volcanoes, meteorid impact craters and geophysical processes. Samples of the atmosphere may help understand the formation, evolution and why there is less atmosphere than here on Earth. Understanding the geophysical processes on Mars could also help us understand the geophysical evolution of Earth as well.
So far we have been sending robotic explorers to Mars. However, NASA, ESA and other large space organizations are set on sending humans to Mars. But why is this so important? Can’t robots do everything we need?
Firstly, robots are really important as a forerunner for humans, as they can scout ahead, look for potential resources, risks and hazards. Sending humans requires far more resources to be sent on the mission, they will need to pack everything they need to survive the trip. If there are any resources there that can be harvested it will help reduce what they need to pack- thus reducing the cost of the mission. Water would be a very valuable resource. Samples from robots can help discover where potential resources are available.
One of the main advantages of sending humans to Mars it the quick decisions they can make around sampling and data acquisition to optimze scientific importance of the samples take. Whereas robotic rovers have to wait 5 to 20 minutes for instructions from the Earth. If things don’t go to plan, human astranouts can make instant decisions and find solution. Additionally, they can move around obstacles and rough terrain far more easily than most robotic vehicles.
Human mission will also teach us about how to live and work on Mars.
We can see many of the advantage of human exploration from looking at the Apollo missions to the Moon. Such as certain scientifically valuable rocks were collected thanks to the quick thinking and critical analysis of the astronauts.
These are some of the compelling reasons for sending human explorers to Mars. But conversely there are cons involved as well. These include the difficulties for astronauts to survive on a distant environmentally complicated planet. Human missions are far more expensive than robotic ones, as they require more resources and need to be returned to Earth after the mission is complete. There is also the potential risk to Mars of accidentally introducing terrestrial microbes.
What resources do we need? And how are we preparing for human exploration of Mars?
One of the most important resources for humans exploration is oxygen, needed for breathing and fuel. The NASA experiment Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, or MOXIE, is trying to demonstrate the technology to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere.
Astronauts on the ISS have regular resupply missions to deliver fresh food. However, astronauts on Mars, will not have that luxury. NASA is researching food systems which will enable quality, variety, and nutritional values for extended space missions. On the ISS they are carrying out experiments on plant growth which are helping to inform in-space crop management.
Again the ISS is carrying out experiments to test life support systems that can regenerate or recycle consumables such as food, air, and water.
Martian astronauts will need a reliable power supply. This will need to be lightweight and reliable, running in any location or weather. NASA is investigating various power system options, even including fission surface power.
Martian spacesuits will be vital to protect the astronauts form the harsh environments on Mars and providing many of the other resources needed, air, water, biometric monitoring controls, and communications while outside their spaceship or habitat.
Currently it is thought that human missions to Mars probably use lasers to communicate with Earth. Laser communications would be able to send large amounts of real-time information and data, including high-definition images and even video feeds.
While on Mars astronauts will need a habitat to live in. This could either be fixed on the surface or mobile on wheels. The habitat will need to provide the same shelter as on Earth with the added necessities of being pressurized and housing a robust water recycling system.
Mars is the next frontier for human space exploration, it holds exciting possibilities to discover if life has existed elsewhere in our solar system and about the history of this interesting planet.Â
Humans will enable us to make more scientific discoveries as they are more agile and can make critical decisions quickly.
This post was written by Dr Heather Campbell for Mission Astro.
If you have any questions about this post or our services, please email us on [email protected].
Take me to the FREE taster session for Mission Astro!
Copyright © 2025 Just Good Science Ltd
Website and course built and managed by Web X Design Studio
