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Since the space race, sending humans to Mars has been a major focus. From NASA's Mariner 4 in 1964 to the Perseverance rover in 2020, Mars explorations have advanced significantly.
Figure 1. Astronaut on Mars (Nasa.gov, 2024)
Geology of Mars
The knowledge of Martian geology has increased enormously in the last 40 years.
Based on data collected by rovers that orbit mars, there are several ways mars's geological state is similar to Earth. Mars’ volcanism has been extensive, very long lived and rather constant in its setting. Water was available in large quantities in the distant past of Mars, when a magnetic field and more vigorous tectonics were active (OpenStax, 2017). Exogenic forces have been shaping Martian landscapes and have led to landscapes shaped by wind, water and ice. Mars’ dynamical behavior continues, with its climatic variation affecting climate and geology until very recent times.
Figure 2: Illustration of the ESCAPADE spacecraft in orbit around Mars. (Image: Rocket Lab USA/UC Berkeley)
What are the conditions needed for life on Mars?
Life on Earth depends on water for survival. Therefore, if life ever existed on Mars, there likely would have been a sustained water source. That's why our quest for signs of life on Mars concentrates on areas where liquid water may have been present in the past, beneath the surface where it could still exist, or in current "hot spots" where hydrothermal pools, similar to those at Yellowstone, could have been habitable.
Information from various NASA Mars missions show us the potential presence of liquid water just below the surface in specific locations, as well as water ice at the Martian poles. These missions also seek alternative energy sources aside from sunlight, as life on the Martian surface is improbable due to the breakdown of organic molecules by "superoxides," which are essential for life.
On Earth, life can exist in environments without the presence of sunlight, such as deep ocean depths, inside rocks, and deep underground, where chemical and geothermal energy serve as alternative energy sources for life forms (SAE Media Group, 2024).
Thus, it is possible that subsurface microbes on Mars might also utilize such energy sources.
Living and Working on Mars
Engineers and scientists across the country are working to develop the technologies that astronauts will use to one day live and work on Mars, and safely return home to Earth.
There are several critical aspects that we need to consider in order to inhabit Mars, including oxygen, food, water, power, spacesuits, shelters, and communications. NASA is preparing for human exploration on Mars by demonstrating the technology to produce oxygen from the Martian atmosphere for burning fuel and breathing. Additionally, NASA is also developing life support systems that can regenerate or recycle consumables and is testing them on the International Space Station.
A reliable power supply will be essential for astronauts to explore Mars. The power system will need to be lightweight and capable of running regardless of its location or the weather on the Red Planet. NASA is exploring options for power systems, including fission surface power (NASA, 2023).
Conclusion
The concept of Martian life has been a popular theme in literature and film, often portraying intelligent beings or complex ecosystems. Advances in technology may enable us to truly explore subsurface environments, where life could potentially exist.
As we continue to explore the Red Planet, the question of life—whether it existed, exists, or could exist in the future—remains one of the most compelling mysteries in planetary science.
Works Cited
Nasa.gov. (2024). Mars Exploration: Science Goals - NASA Science. [online] Available at: https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-science/programs/mars-exploration/science-goals/ [Accessed 5 Oct. 2024].
NASA. (2023). Humans to Mars - NASA. [online] Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/humans-to-mars/#preparing [Accessed 5 Oct. 2024].
OpenStax (2017). 10.4 The Geology of Mars. [online] Ucf.edu. Available at: https://pressbooks.online.ucf.edu/astronomybc/chapter/10-4-the-geology-of-mars/ [Accessed 5 Oct. 2024].
SAE Media Group (2024). Mars: Past, Present, Future. [online] Techbriefs.com. Available at: https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/48706-mars-past-present-future [Accessed 5 Oct. 2024].
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