Going 2 Mars

Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in our solar system. It is often referred to as the “Red Planet” due to its reddish appearance, caused by iron oxide on its surface. Mars has captured the interest of scientists and space exploration enthusiasts as a potential candidate for human colonization in the future. The planet has a thin atmosphere, with surface features including large volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps. Ongoing missions and scientific research continue to expand our understanding of Mars and its potential for future exploration.

Some people say the human species came from Mars before having settled (and thus bio-engineered life forms already here) on Earth and now intends to “return home” to Mars. Others argue, humans have evolved from single cell organisms right here on Earth and now “reach out for the stars” with Mars possibly just being a first destination to settle on other planets.

In a paper titled “The Philosophical Transactions”, Sir William Herschel described the many similarities between his own planet and Mars:

“The analogy between Mars and the Earth is, perhaps, by far the greatest in the whole solar system. The [daily] motion is nearly the same; the [slant] of their respective ecliptic, on which the seasons depend, not very different; of all the superior planets the distance of Mars from the sun is by far the nearest alike to that of the earth; nor will the length of the [Martian] year appear very different from that which we enjoy.”
– Sir William Herschel

Because Mars was so much like Earth, Herschel was convinced that the red planet teemed with populations of living creatures. Some scientists shared his viewpoint, while others thought it was nonsense.

Well, we don’t know that for certain just yet. Fact is, Humanity has been fascinated by Mars since long before we stepped foot on the Moon. Our planetary neighbor has been the subject of innumerable works of sci-fi and inspired countless dreams of adventure and exploration.

Whatever the case may be, let alone the idea of human settlement on another planet is rather fascinating, isn’t it? For this – and certainly other reasons too -, NASA is on a journey to Mars, with a goal of sending humans to the Red Planet in the 2030s. That journey is already well under way.