Colonizing Mars?
Can We? and Should We?
Analyzing the Idea
Earth is the only planet in our Solar System that we know is home to intelligent life forms. Earth has the main components of life, that are non existent on planets in our Solar System. Scientists are now speculating and analyzing the fact that Mars specifically, could sustain or give birth to life. If there is a possible way for people to live on Mars then we should jump at the opportunity. It may be very beneficial for us earthlings, especially because we are destroying the planet everyday.
Plants and Vegetation on Mars
We need to find a way to support life on Mars
Mars
The Red Planet
Mars-one
A non profit organization that plans to send humans to Mars to establish permanent settlement in 2023
Can We?
Mars is the closest to earth on sustaining life, but is currently inhabitable for humans. Before we are able to colonize mars and let mankind settle there, there are many hurdles to jump over and challenges to face. Also Based on current technology humans could travel to Mars in as little as 259 days. Mars also offers a nearly identical length of day to Earth's, along with similar topography [source: VanLeer]. irstly, we need to terraform the planet, which will make it livable for humans. Some factors that need to be put in place include that there is no air pressure to hold in water, and Mars suffers from the lack of a magnetic field that would shield it from solar radiation. Also we need to be able to convert most of the Carbon Dioxide enriched atmosphere into Oxygen for plants, animals and humans to be sustained. Secondly, it has many health impacts such as muscle deterioration and can weaken bones from the zero gravity environment. There are many other challenges that we need to overcome in order to terraform Mars. After that we may be well on our way somewhere that many are calling our "only hope."
Should We?
Assuming that we are able to make Mars livable, we should jump at the opportunity. It may be the wisest choice we can make. There are many reasons why we should do this because of many aspects. Firstly, it is very similar to earth. Mars has water, frozen underground, and at the polar caps. There is evidence that this water has flooded mars in the past and the present, in liquid form. There is a lot of erosion found on the slopes of craters and volcanoes, which proves that Mars was once a wet and hospitable planet. A day on Mars is 24.5 hours long. Mars is a third the size of Earth, but it has as much land area as the seven continents combined. This could be very beneficial for we almost basically have another earth to colonize if possible. Also if Mars had a thicker atmosphere, then it is likely that both planets would share the same climate. Because of the similarities between both planets we may be able to live comfortably. The second reason why we should colonize Mars is because it may lead to finding bacterial life. This could lead to many other breakthroughs in science. The third reason is an economic aspect. Mars is worth a lot of money because of the amount of space ready for development, plus it has many precious metals such as gold, platinum, and silver. As you can see, there are many reasons why we should colonize Mars. As soon as we have the chance we should follow through, for it can be very beneficial.
Is it important that we colonize mars?
It is very important that when the opportunity hits us, we must grab it and colonize mars. It could be very beneficial to us in ways unimaginable. It can serve as a back up plan for mankind. Especially because humans are destroying the world one day at a time. Wether its war, global warming, pollution, the earth will sooner or late not be able to sustain its resources. Moving to Mars could be the only escape from earth when it things get really bad. Earth has only 1 percent of the worlds freshwater available for us. Ceres, one of Mars' moon has more freshwater than the whole earth, which could be a huge asset in the future sustainability of our water supply. Our sun provides heat and energy needed for life to continue on our planet, but as any other life form it has a lifespan. As the sun continues to age, it is getting closer to its form as a Red Giant. The sun, then on would destroy Venus. Also whether or not it could swell large enough to consume Earth is also debatable. No matter what, when the sun reaches this Red Giant stage, it will boil away all the water and heat the surface past livable conditions on Earth. Scientists predict that these stages will start to begin in around 3 billion years.
Another reason why we should start trying to get people to Mars, is because it could be the turning point project of governments and nations putting aside their differences to fulfill this mission. I believe that if this opportunity presents itself, it could be very valuable for us now and in our present.
Citations
"Why Colonize Mars?" - Red Colony. N.p., 2000. Web. 22 May 2013.
Briggs, Josh. "Curiosity." Discovery Channel. Discovery, n.d. Web. 22 May 2013.