There are currently eleven robotic missions to Mars, such as rovers and orbiters, providing pictures that thrill and excite scientists alike. They study its surface, atmosphere, climate and seasonal and annual cycles.
At each poster, participants roll the die and advance in their mission or begin one from scratch.
How do we get to Mars?
The fastest route to Mars may not be as straightforward as simply leaving Earth and flying directly there; space travel requires more than simply pushing on the gas pedal – turning, braking and other maneuvers require fuel that would otherwise go toward acceleration.
A cost-effective method to reach Mars would involve following an elliptical path around the Sun, similar to how spacecraft approach other planets. Unfortunately, such a voyage takes over half a year one-way.
Nasa has begun work on its Space Launch System rocket, scheduled to be operational by 2017. Elon Musk also plans to use his Falcon Heavy spaceship as part of his launch plans this year or next; these vehicles are massive enough to carry astronauts and cargo; however, for travel to Mars they won’t provide sufficient food, supplies or extra fuel, with crew facing higher levels of radiation from galactic cosmic rays than astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
What is the atmosphere like on Mars?
Mars’ thin atmosphere consists largely of carbon dioxide, with nitrogen and argon also present, but minimal amounts of water vapor. Mars is less dense than Earth due to the absence of its magnetosphere which channels solar wind around its planet and interacts directly with the ionosphere, stripping away atoms to thin its atmosphere further.
Each winter, up to one-third of atmospheric carbon dioxide sublimates from seasonal polar caps into the atmosphere again and sublimates back out, dropping atmospheric pressure significantly and creating Martian weather fronts.
Curiosity, Mars’ rover, is currently conducting scientific analyses on rock samples it collected at Gale Crater, in search of any indication that might point toward evidence that once existed in Mars’ atmosphere that supported life or once did so extinctly; such evidence would radically transform our view of our universe as evidence that we are not alone here on planet earth. Furthermore, Curiosity has been conducting observations regarding how radiation from solar sources dissipated through Mars’ surface and atmosphere.
How long will it take to get to Mars?
Due to current space technology, it typically takes seven months for a spacecraft to reach Mars; this time frame should decrease over time as advancements advance.
Humans traveling to Mars must plan carefully. Knowing exactly when they can launch will ensure the spacecraft lands at Mars at the right moment; because planets orbit around their sun at different rates, distance can fluctuate over time and cause issues when travelling there.
To reduce this impact, spacecraft must be directed toward Mars when it is closest to Earth, which occurs every 26 months. Furthermore, astronauts need to bring food, water, oxygen and sufficient fuel for return trips – adding weight that slows down their spaceship.
Physicists are exploring technology that could make travel to Mars much faster. One potential solution involves “Earth-Mars cyclers”, which could travel at near lightspeed between both planets.
How will we live on Mars?
Humanity faces many hurdles on its journey to Mars. Those first arriving must act as pioneers – not only spending months traveling through space but also adapting to living on an inhospitable world with minimal air supply.
Astronauts need a spacecraft capable of withstanding both the long journey and challenging landing on Mars. Additionally, every item in their spacecraft should be carefully considered when packing their rocket so as to achieve maximum weight reduction and fit within their limited cargo capacity.
Once on Mars, they will require a pressurised environment to protect them from its thin atmosphere and the possibility of meteors colliding with its surface. They will also need food and supplies in their spacecraft as well as communications relay satellites in orbit above Mars in order to stay alive and communicate back home.