1. Could humans live on Mars?
Colonization of Mars
Could humans live on Mars?

2. Overview:
Can Mars be colonized?
What would be the challenges and benefits of man living on Mars?
Of all the planets Mars is by far the most habitable for humans, but there are still significant barriers to overcome before Mars can be colonized.

3. First we will compare the similarities and differences between Earth and Mars.

4. Similarities to Earth
1. Rotation/Tilt: Mars has a similar length of day (24 hours 39 minutes) and a tilt of (Earth: 23.44) which results in Mars having similar seasons as Earth. Since Mars is located farther from the sun than Earth; a year on Mars lasts for 687 days.
2. Surface: Mars has a rocky surface which covers about the same percentage of size on Earth. (Earth is about twice the size of Mars in size and density). On the surface there are also many volcanoes although they are extinct and no longer erupting.
3. Water: Mars has polar ice caps similar to Earth which contain frozen water. Scientists also think water once covered the continent similar to Earth and if the polar ice caps melted it would do the same again.

5. Differences from Earth
1. Life: Although plants and organisms on Earth have been able to survive in the harshest conditions on Earth, they probably could not survive on Mars.
2. Gravity: The gravity on Mars is 38% of that on Earth. Currently there is research being done on the long term effects of low gravity on the human body.
3. Climate/Weather: Although Mars is technically in the “habitable zone” it is much colder than Earth. The mean surface temperature is between degrees Fahrenheit and 23 Fahrenheit.
4. Solar: Since Mars is farther from the Sun only about half of the solar energy that reaches Earth will make it to Mars.
5. Pressure: The atmosphere pressure on Mars is significantly lower than the Armstrong limit (levels of pressure humans can survive).

6. Terraforming of Mars:
Although it seems like science fiction the idea of being able to terraform Mars into a more habitable planet is being discussed.
The process of terraforming would involve using man-made processes to transform Mar’s atmosphere into something more habitable for humans to survive in.

7. Traveling to Mars
How would we get there and how long would it take?
Let’s take a look….

8. Distance:
Venus is the only planet that would be easier to reach for humans than Mars. Mars and Earth are about 150 million miles apart but it depends on where they are on their orbit. With current space flight technology it would take a space shuttle 9 months to reach Mars.
Radiation: On the voyage to Mars the astronauts would be subjected to constant cosmic radiation and solar wind which cause DNA damage that increases a person’s chances of having cancer.
Landing on Mars: Since Mars has only about 40% of the gravity that Earth has landing a heavy shuttle on the surface of Mars would be difficult.
Landing Locations: Likely sites are caves near the Arsia Mons volcano, Valles Marineris which is a large canyon, and lava tubes found on the sides of Arsia Mons.
Venus

9. Equipment Needed
What Equipment will be needed to colonize Mars? The most necessary equipment needed is that which will keep humans alive while living there.
This equipment will include production equipment which will be able to produce food, water, energy, and oxygen. They will also need equipment for general habitation and protection from the harsh elements of Mars.

10. Equipment Needed
1. Living Quarters – This would require either pre-assembly or human construction on arrival at Mars. The main function would be security from the atmosphere, pressure, and lack of oxygen.
2. Resource extraction equipment - This equipment is essential for human survival. The primary extraction equipment would be for water and oxygen.
3. Energy Production – This would most likely entail some sort of solar panels to produce energy for the living station.
4. Food Production – For not only storage but for preparing and making food. For colonization to take place food would have to be produced on Mars.
5. Fuel Production – Energy will be needed for the return shuttle and to use the different types of transportation on Mars.
6. Communication Equipment – This equipment will be needed for communication between those on Mars and for return communication back to earth. Communication with Mars has a delay between 3-22 minutes.

11. Purpose – Possible benefits of colonizing Mars
What are some of the possible scientific and economic benefits of Mars?
Research: The goal of putting a man on Mars or colonizing Mars has helped fuel scientific research and amazing engineering accomplishments.

12. Robotic Systems:
In the process of researching Mars many innovating robotic systems have been created. These robots have helped take pictures, collect soil samples, and map the entire planet among many other feats.
These robots include the three Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity) and the Mars Surveyor Lander. There are current developments on the Mars Colonial Transporter which would bring supplies to Mars prior to a manned mission planned in 2030.
Mining:
As parts of the Earth were colonized there success sometimes depended on the raw materials that were available to support the colony.
This could be same for Mars. Materials could be mined from Mars to support the colony or to send back to Earth. Its close location to the asteroid belt could also allow mining of iron nickel meteorites which are abundantly found throughout the asteroid belt.
Human Life:
The dinosaurs discovered the planet Earth is vulnerable to being struck by a large asteroid and possibly eliminating all life.
If humans are able to colonize Mars it would provide an outlet or option to extend human life even if Earth no longer existed or was uninhabitable.

13. Mining of Mars
Mining in the Asteroid Belt

14. Mars Rovers
Mars Curiosity
Mars Spirit
Mars Opportunity

15. When do you think we will visit Mars?
KLS