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What Are The Challenges of Living on Mars? Challenges On Colonization of Mars

Challenges of living on Mars: The Unspoken Truth | Challenges On Colonization of Mars, Colonizing Mars, Colonized Mars, Colonize on Mars, Mars Colo..

Challenges of living on Mars: The Unspoken Truth | Challenges On Colonization of Mars

Have you been following Mars news lately? If it is so, then you are aware abou Elon Musk’s dream of colonizing the red planet is coming closer and closer to reality?

SpaceX has been preparing to land the first human on Mars by 2024. Meantime, NASA is planning to land the first human on Mars by 2030. Similarly, China is also hoping to land the first human on Mars by 2033. While observing the future planning of these Space giants, we can lucidly assume that the human mission to Mars is near to see. But the journey to Mars is going to be dangerous, but also a huge undertaking.

It’s been more than 50 years since Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon. And in the years and decades since, we’ve dreamed up stories about what it would be like to live on other planets. But now it looks like we might actually be living on Mars in the near future.

NASA is already planning scientists to explore the Red Planet, and Elon Musk is planning to colonize it. But what about the challenges of living on Mars? There are a lot of challenges living on Mars. This article explores all about the challenges living on Mars could bring.

Meanwhile, you may think why living on Mars, and not another planet? Though the distance between Mars and Earth is 370.05 million km and the distance between Earth and Venus is 217.58 million km. It seems Venus is more than 150 million km closer to Earth than Mars.

Although, the planets viz. Mercury and Venus are nearer to the Earth but at the same time, they are also nearer to the sun which makes them the hottest planets. So, it is impossible to exist human life on such planets. Also, it seems impossible to live on the other 6 planets except for Mars.

What are the challenges of living on Mars?

For all the talks, movies, books, and even short films, Mars is still just a fictional setting. It does seem, though, that in recent times, the topic of living on Mars has become more mainstream. There are a large number of organizations working on the future of space travel and space settlements. The goal of these organizations is to establish sustainable human colonies on Mars, the Moon, and other planets.

Even if we only think of living on Mars as an adventurous fantasy for the sake of fantasy, then we can’t help but notice how intense the situation is on this tiny planet. Almost every aspect of our existence depends on the long-term survival on Mars and so far, no solution has been discovered to safely live and survive on this lifeless planet.

Finally, The Red Planet Mars is the only option now in order to extend the presence of humans in the solar system. Researchers claim that Mars is the most habitable planet after Earth due to its position for the sun and it has been found large amounts of underground ice on Mars. 

While talking about living on Mars, it isn’t so easy. It’s a harsh environment with no breathable atmosphere and an average temperature of -81 degrees Fahrenheit is the most vital challenge for humans. 

Mars is cold, dry, and, most importantly, has a lot of gravity which means that living on Mars could be difficult. Likewise, Scientists are doing research on Mars in order to make a suitable environment for humans on Mars. On the contrary, resources are lacking for proper investigation because the amount of money for Space Exploration and Space Research is in the billions. Now, let's see briefly the challenges of living on Mars. Here are the challenges that living on Mars could bring.

Lack of Ozone Layer

The ozone layer is the shield of Earth that protects mankind from the harmful radiation that comes from the sun. But, in the case of Mars, the atmosphere is covered with carbon dioxide, not oxygen. So, due to which harmful radiation that comes from the sun directly enters into Mars.

And that creates a tough challenge survival of humans. Therefore, scientists are doing research on this challenge. So, let's see what kind of research will rid of this issue in the near future. 

Challenges of living on Mars: The Unspoken Truth | Challenges On Colonization of Mars

Lack of Oxygen

An ongoing issue that affects the living system on Mars is a lack of oxygen. For someone in weightlessness to survive on the Martian surface or surface of Mars, oxygen is the lifeline. However, the atmosphere of Mars is extremely thin and the amount of oxygen is not sufficient.

Moreover, the chances of acquiring oxygen for survival are extremely rare. For this reason, the development of a type of protective atmosphere is needed in the Mars settlement to make this concern a distant thought. Another significant concern is Temperature. The temperature on Mars would be so low that breathing oxygen would become impossible and people will suffocate within minutes.

Challenges of living on Mars: The Unspoken Truth | Challenges On Colonization of Mars

Atmosphere of Mars

In order to live on Mars, the environment should be similar to the Earth as well as have the resources that will sustain human life. While talking about the atmosphere of Mars. Mars has its own thin layer of atmosphere but the amount of oxygen is inadequate for us. Similarly, the martian atmosphere is constantly exposed to deadly radiation. Also, its atmospheric pressure is very low as compared to Earth i.e. only 0.6%. If anyone lands on Mars without a spacesuit, then he's/she's head will be blown out. 

Because of the low atmospheric pressure, the ice presence on Mars is direct changed into vapor. The low atmosphere of Mars doesn't support maintaining the proper temperature of the planet. The scientists will have to develop techniques to grow plants in space to cultivate an oxygen-free atmosphere. If this doesn't work then humans will still be breathing air that will require full knowledge and skills to avoid contaminants to ensure human survival. So, this will be a tough challenge for the scientists to make a thick layer of atmosphere on Mars.

Challenges of living on Mars: The Unspoken Truth | Challenges On Colonization of Mars

Lack of Fresh Water

Research shows that there is a huge amount of water present on Mars but in the form of frozen ice. Also, if we try to a meltdown that ice, then it will change into vapor instead of water. NASA as well as other private agencies have invested millions of dollars in research, finding the presence of water for the next big step of humanity.

Water On Earth, we have the resource of drinking water right at our fingertips. On Mars, it’s a bit of a different story. And it is a big step: a trip to Mars. So, a trip to Mars isn't like a trip to Kathmandu. It will take longer, and it is farther from home. A spacecraft will take years, but there is a chance that we could one day be going to the red planet.

Challenges of living on Mars: The Unspoken Truth | Challenges On Colonization of Mars

Lack of a Protective Magnetic Field

The distance from Earth to Mars is 370.05 million miles, which is very huge times the distance to the moon. It takes a huge time for radio signals to travel from Earth to Mars and back. These massive distances provide many challenges for life forms. When astronauts left the earth, their magnetic fields, which protected them from the sun's intense radiation, left. After a period of time, it is believed that other compounds in the atmosphere stripped away the ozone layer that protected the astronauts from the sun's rays.

The magnetic field of Earth protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the universe. In the case of Mars, there is no magnetic field which will be a tougher challenge for researchers.

Challenges of living on Mars: The Unspoken Truth | Challenges On Colonization of Mars

Lack of Food

One of the major obstacles of living on Mars would be the lack of resources that would help you get by. Your supplies would be severely limited. Even water, one of the most basic needs, would be scarce. You would probably not have access to a simple sink to wash your face. Eating would be similar to eating as you do on Earth. You could only eat the solid food that you cook using Martian resources.

You wouldn’t be able to eat fruits, vegetables or any other kinds of vegetation. There are no resources to grow food, no renewable energy, and no way to sustain life. Therefore, people living on Mars need to find creative ways to survive. One option is to grow crops on Mars and create a sustainable process. You may have seen that astronauts have been growing some vegetables in an artificial environment in the spaceship. But it is limited for the whole of mankind. Although it is a tough challenge, scientists have been doing research on this ultimate issue.

Challenges of living on Mars: The Unspoken Truth | Challenges On Colonization of Mars

Lack of Sunshine

The fact that astronauts won’t have many hours of sunlight on Mars is probably one of the most well-known challenges of living on the red planet. With no atmosphere to protect them from the Sun’s rays, humans on Mars are expected to spend a good deal of time indoors.

To do this, researchers are looking at using reflective pigments to create artificial clouds in order to mimic the solar energy received by Mars. 

Challenges of living on Mars: The Unspoken Truth | Challenges On Colonization of Mars

Conclusion

One’s Mars settlement project would be one of the first modern examples of long-term human colonization. This could provide us with a glimpse into what the ideal life on another planet would be like. First of all, it would allow us to see for ourselves what it would be like to be isolated from Earth in this hostile environment for extended periods of time. The high levels of radiation present in the Red Planet could be a threat to even the strongest of the human race. Despite this, there would be much to learn from such a long-term operation, such as the Mars One settlement program may teach us. Would you like to contribute to SurfTheKnowledge? Feel free to contact us at [email protected]

SurfTheKnowledge is a technology website where you can get the latest Science & Technology News, Gadgets Updates & Reviews, along with various Life, Travel, and Business Hacks.

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