Mars

Outposts on the Red Planet

Background

Humans have observed the planet Mars, named after the Roman God of War, since prehistoric times, but the fourth planet from the Sun now holds the status of most favorable location for human habitation beyond Earth in the Solar System.

The first missions flown to Mars occurred in the 1960s, and now, less than 60 years later, plans to launch the first manned missions with the purpose of establishing an outpost are coming to fruition.

Courtesy of Mars One

The Pioneers

Multiple companies, SpaceX included, have expressed interest in ferrying human passengers to Mars.

One company in particular, Mars One, has the clearest timeline when it comes to accomplishing this goal.

The final product of its planned missions, a Mars outpost, can be seen in the video to the left.

The Mars One Timeline

2011

Mars One founded with the goal of colonizing Mars.

2013

Mars One began the process of selecting crew members for future missions.

2017

Selected crew began training.

2022

Demo mission launched.

Will seek to prove the extractability of water from Martian subsurface soil
Will also test various solar panels for use in later missions
Various other selections from global universities will make up the rest of the payload

2024

Satellite launched into orbit around Mars for purpose of maintaining communication.

2026

Rover and a communications satellite launched.

The rover will help select the optimal location for an outpost and begin prepping for the arrival of cargo in later missions
The "comsat" will allow the outpost to communicate with Earth 24/7 by linking up with another satellite in orbit around the sun

2029

Six cargo missions launched containing a rover, living units, life support units, and supplies.

2030

Rover connects the cargo units, preparing the outpost for the arrival of the manned mission.

2031

First manned mission departs. Cargo for second manned mission launched shortly following departure of first crew.

2033

The second crew lands with the goal to assist in the expansion of the station.

2032

First crew lands on Mars.

The Mars Transit Vehicle

The vehicle which will be used to transport human passengers to Mars will weigh somewhere in the realm of 20,000 kg and will carry 800 kg of food, 3,000 L of water, and 700 kg of oxygen. Its trip to Mars will last 210 days. While the specifications may be stringent, all of the required technology to produce such a vessel currently exists. Landing capsules and rocket technologies will be purchased from companies such as SpaceX and Boeing, and may include Dragon capsules.

Courtesy of National Geographic

The Experts

Listen to Elon Musk, Neil Degrasse Tyson, and other experts speak on the exploration of and prospect of human colonies on Mars. According to them, Mars certainly has water, and the time has come to finally send humans to the Red Planet.

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Sources

"Mars Facts." Nine Planets, nineplanets.org/mars.html. Accessed 22 May 2018.

"Mars One." Mars One, www.mars-one.com/. Accessed 22 May 2018.

"We Are Prepared to Send Humans to Mars." National Geographic, news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/09/elon-musk-spacex-mars-moon-bfr-rockets-spacescience/. Accessed 22 May 2018.

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