Future Missions to Create Base on Mars and it's Moons!

Scientists from NASA and other space agencies are working on their future missions to create bases on Mars and its moons! Mars is one of the most suitable places in our solar system to start human settlements beyond the Earth. But scientists believe that human settlements on Mars are not going to be easy. To start human settlements on Mars, we humans will first have to prepare infrastructure on both its moons, after which we can prepare a space colony on Mars. But how can we establish human settlements on Mars, and how will both the moons of Mars prove to be very important for us in this process? You will learn all this in today's article.

Contents:

1. Human Base on the Moons of Mars
2. Colonizing Mars and it's Moons
3. Summary and FAQ

Human Base on the Moons of Mars

Sending humans to Mars is one of the most challenging and upcoming goals of scientists. This is no less than a difficult task. First of all, we have to reach the Earth's low earth orbit; after that, we have to make a successful landing on the moon. Then the journey of millions of kilometers from the Moon to Mars and back again will be completed in at least 2 years. It will be a very long and tiring journey. 

But there are two places that can prove to be important milestones in taking us from Earth to Mars. Both of these can prove to be stepping stones between Earth and Mars. These base camps can protect us and our resources from the gravitational force of Mars' sudden entry into its orbit. There can be two stops to reach Mars from Earth: its two moons orbiting around Mars, Deimos and Phobos.

 

How were the two moons of Mars discovered?

For a long time, scientists believed that Mars did not have any natural satellites or moons. Astronomer Johannes Kepler, who gave the three famous laws of planetary motion, first suggested the existence of two moons revolving around this red planet. American astronomer Asaph Hall discovered Deimos and Phobos by studying Mars in 1877. These two small objects were hidden from the glare of the Red Planet. The diameter of Deimos is 13 kilometers, while the diameter of Phobos is 22 kilometers. It is noteworthy that, until recently, Deimos was considered to be the smallest moon in the solar system.

 

There are many similarities between Mars and Earth. Although Mars is a dry and cold planet, it contains many elements that are capable of making it suitable for life, such as water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. Although the internal structure of Venus, considered Earth's twin, is very similar to that of Earth, Mars is uniquely the most useful and suitable planet when it comes to habitable conditions. Mars rotates on its axis at approximately the same time as Earth: 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35 seconds. 

Also Read: Most Less Known Facts About Moon & India's Chandrayaan 3!

Mars has a seasonal cycle similar to Earth. Like Earth, Mars also has an atmosphere, although it is much thinner. Till now, a total of 18 space missions have been sent to Mars, out of which only 9 have landed safely on its surface. Its two moons, Phobos and Deimos, provide a unique option for landing on Mars. Instead of going directly to Earth from the surface of Mars, we humans could establish a space station on these rocky moons as a base camp before landing on Mars. So that a serious and safe effort can be made to land humans on the surface of Mars.

Colonizing Mars and it's Moons

In 2015, three NASA engineers proposed a 'minimal architecture to send a human mission to Mars'. He suggested that a four-step process should be adopted to send humans to Mars. First of all, a human mission will be sent to Phobos to prepare the basic infrastructure. After that, the astronauts will go below the surface for a month. Then a year-long campaign will be launched. And finally, humans will set foot on Mars with a permanent presence. To reach Phobos, four rockets from the Space Launch System will be required. 

The first three rockets will carry supplies; the second will make Phobos habitable; and the third will carry a vehicle to return astronauts home. The fourth rocket will carry four astronauts to Mars in an Orion capsule. Astronauts will remain on the Phobos station for approximately 500 days, conducting science experiments on Phobos. Based on lessons learned from the Phobos mission, NASA and six other space agencies will launch their own launch systems for an actual landing on Mars.

 

Ultimately, a crew of four passengers will launch, travel to the Phobos station, and then prepare to land on Mars. Two astronauts will land on Mars while the other two remain on Phobos. Space agencies around the world are engaged in efforts. Space agencies will send missions to Mars and its moons. It is estimated that the first human will touch the surface of Mars in the 2030s or 2040s. In 2024, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) plans to launch the Martian Moons Exploration Mission to visit Phobos and Deimos.

Martian Moons Exploration will land on the surface of Phobos, collect samples there, and return to Earth by 2029. Some astronauts have also suggested that NASA should land astronauts on Phobos before going to Mars. NASA is preparing to send a manned mission by 2030. Only the future will tell the answer to when and how humans will reach Mars.

 

Also Read: Most Interesting Details About India's Aditya L1 Mission!

Summary and FAQ

It is possible that this mission could be completed earlier than expected, as this is one of the most important space missions for humans. Mars and Venus are the nearest and most habitable planets after our Earth. But on Venus, colonization is only possible in its atmosphere and not on its surface. While on Mars, colonization is possible on its surface. Thus, scientists are preferring Mars over Venus, and after colonizing Mars, they will start launching missions to colonize Venus.

 

Through the James Webb Space Telescope and other space telescopes, scientists have found many planets and moons where settlement is possible, and they have more qualities than Mars. But the main problem is their distance from our planet. I hope you have learned a lot from this article. Here are the answers to some questions that could arise in your mind:

1. Can there be life on Mars moons?

Yes, scientists have found that Mars and its moons are capable of evolving life, and human settlement is also possible on them.

2. What did NASA really find on Mars?

NASA found some water ripples on its surface.

3. Does Mars have oxygen?

Oxygen is present on Mars in very low amounts. The atmosphere of Mars is mostly filled with carbon dioxide, at approximately 96%.

4. Can we grow plants on Mars?

Scientists have predicted that plants can grow on Mars only in greenhouses.

5. Is Mars hot or cold?

Mars is actually colder than our Earth.