Since the days of yore, humans have gazed at the heavens, yearning for celestial globes beyond our planet, as they marvel over the progress of the Apollo missions. But in recent years, we’ve entered a new phase, one in which colonization of other planets — particularly Mars — is no longer a distant dream but rather something that is becoming a tangible goal. As technology progresses, private companies charge into the space race and government agencies ramp up their missions, humanity’s future presence beyond Earth is closer than ever. In this article, Space Exploration 2.0: The race to colonize Mars and beyond.
A Change in Mindset: How We Discuss Space Exploration
Until early this century, government agencies dominated space exploration — Think NASA, ESA, Roscosmos. These agencies delivered astronauts to the Moon, launched space telescopes like Hubble, and sent robotic probes to distant planets. However, now a new era has begun — Space Exploration 2.0. We are in the midst of one of the most significant periods of transformation in the space industry, with companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin coexisting with government space agencies.
The most significant of these changes in this new era is that of colonization and sustainability. What was once a mission driven by exploration and research has now evolved into a race to establish permanent human landings beyond Earth. Mars is the main target, but the long-term aim includes work on the Moon, asteroids, and even remote exoplanets.
Why Mars? The Key to Humanity’s Future
For scientists and dreamers alike, Mars has been the object of fascination. Mars is the most Earth-like planet in the solar system, and as such, its colonization would be unlike anything mankind has ever seen. Mars is a familiar planet with a 24.6-hour day, seasons similar to ours, and water — ice, at least — in abundance. But there are still challenges that we need to face before we can make Mars a home.
Atmosphere and Environment
Mars’ atmosphere is about 100 times thinner than Earth’s and largely composed of carbon dioxide, so humans cannot breathe without help. Plus, Mars has no global magnetic protective field, so its surface gets blasted by deadly solar radiation. To reside there, we will need to establish habitats that shield us from the extreme environment.
Water and Food
There are indications that liquid water might be found underground on Mars, but being able to tap it would take advanced technology. Furthermore, food will need to be grown on Mars, so alternative solutions, such as hydroponics or genetically modified plants that survive in Martian conditions, will have to be implemented.
Transportation and Sustainability
It won’t be easy to go to Mars and back. Depending on how all the planets are lined up that day, the journey can take from six to nine months. Once we reach such far-off locations, we must begin generating renewable energy sources like solar power and form semi-steady way stations that can maintain human life for extended periods of time.
These hurdles are daunting, but nonetheless, Mars stands as the most likely candidate for humanity’s first off-world colony. Its proximity, resources, and Earth-like features make it a prime candidate for interplanetary colonization.
Private Companies Competing to Reach Mars
Gone are the days when space exploration was only in the hands of government agencies. If we hope to go to space, we must use this opportunity to embrace private companies like SpaceX. Here’s a look at some of the key players in the race to colonize Mars.
SpaceX
One of the biggest privatized aerospace manufacturers and space transportation systems in the world, SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk in 2002. Musk’s long-term goal is to create a multi-planetary species, and Mars is the centerpiece of that plan. SpaceX is building the Starship rocket, a fully reusable spacecraft intended to take humans to Mars and other destinations. According to Musk, he aims to launch the first crewed mission to the Red Planet in the mid-2020s, with a vision to create a self-sustaining colony there by the year 2050.
Blue Origin
Founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin is another heavy hitter in the space race. Blue Origin has primarily focused on suborbital tourism, with its New Shepard rocket ferrying passengers to the edge of space, but it’s also developing the Blue Moon lander that could carry out lunar missions and, eventually, Mars missions. Blue Origin’s technologies are key to realizing Jeff Bezos’s vision for a world where millions of people will “live and work in space,” a goal Bezos has articulated for many years.
Outside In: 12 Space Companies Actually Aiming for Mars
These articles have shown how various companies are playing important roles in NASA’s work on the Moon and in the deeper solar system. Boeing is a major partner on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) program to send people to the Moon and Mars. Lockheed Martin has been building technologies for deep-space exploration, including a Mars lander and a prototype habitat for astronauts.
As we’ve learned from Apollo, the combination of private companies and government agencies will be essential to speed up humanity’s pathway to Mars. All of this comes from merging resources, capabilities, and advanced technology, which is causing a rush to colonize Mars.
Getting Humans to Mars and Then What?
This begs the question as to when, and how, we will reach Mars and enable a human presence there. Much is left to overcome, but we are well on our way, with a number of milestones already being planned and possibly opening the doors for humanity’s first steps on Mars.
Mission Planning: Learn More About Mars Before We Send Humans
NASA’s Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in 2021, is already gathering samples and looking for evidence of ancient life. Future robotic missions will aim to pave the way for human colonization by mapping resource-rich areas and testing technologies that could be used on Mars.
Mars Roadmap: Lunar Gateway and the Moon Base
The roadmap to Mars includes using the Moon. NASA’s Artemis program plans to land humans on the Moon no later than 2025 and create a sustainable presence by 2030. Technologies that will be later used on Mars will be tested at the lunar base, including life support systems, habitats, and resource extraction methods. A lunar Gateway, an orbiting station around the Moon, will also help open a base for missions that will go to Mars.
Martian Infrastructure
Mars will require habitat structures, materials, and resources for life. Companies such as SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace are already building inflatable habitats and other technologies intended to offer shelter, oxygen, and radiation protection. These two habitats will be required in building the first human colonies on Mars.
Terraforming Mars
Though it sounds like science fiction, some scientists are investigating the prospect of terraforming the Red Planet to be more like Earth. It might include deliberately pumping greenhouse gases to heat up the planet, melting the polar ice caps to free up water, and even generating synthetic magnetic fields to guard against solar radiation. Terraforming Mars, and other planets, is a far-fetched long-term dream, but an ultimate vision for making a second home for our species on the red planet.
The Moral and Societal Impact of Colonizing Mars
This makes it all the more important that as we gaze ahead to the future of colonizing space, we take the potential ethical and societal implications into consideration. While colonizing Mars may be one of the most significant accomplishments in human history, it also comes with many questions.
Planetary Protection
What if we bring life with us to Mars? Another major headache for scientists is inadvertently contaminating the Martian environment with Earth life. International accords, like the Outer Space Treaty, prioritize the need to protect other planets and their biodomes. Crucially, we have to be careful that we do not spoil Mars’ potential for future scientific discovery.
Colonizing Mars: Earth’s Priorities vs. Space Exploration
Colonizing Mars is an exciting prospect, but some argue we should be concentrating our efforts on addressing problems right here on Earth, like combating poverty, climate change, and inequality. Critics argue that flooding billions of dollars into space exploration means that these urgent problems need funds and do not have funds. We will need to balance that with Earth’s priorities when it comes to space colonization.
Social and Economic Opportunities
Colonizing Mars could open up new opportunities for humanity. It may unleash new horizons for scientific discovery, economic expansion, and technological advancement. A Mars settlement might inspire spin-off industries and jobs or even initiate a space economy that provides wealth back to Earth’s economy.
Final Thoughts: A New Frontier for Mankind
Colonization of Mars and beyond isn’t just an ambitious objective — it’s a giant leap of progress for the evolution of humanity. Today, propelled by technology leaps led by private companies, many of which are working in concert with government space agencies, the dream of interplanetary cohabitation is within reach. Although the challenges are great, the rewards for science, technology, and society are equally so. In this exciting new era of space exploration, the future of humanity is no longer confined to Earth.
FAQs
When Will Humans Set Foot on Mars?
The first human-piloted mission to Mars is only expected to occur sometime in the next decade, though this is likely to be spearheaded by private firms like SpaceX. But it may still be 2030 to 2035, or possibly beyond, before a permanent colony is established.
What Are Some Ways Humans Will Survive on Mars?
This study will rely on advanced technologies such as habitat modules, life support systems, and food and water resources on Mars. All of these technologies are being validated on the Moon and in space already.
Will Mars Be Terraforming?
Terraforming Mars may be a goal in the distant future, but it is not currently possible. Scientists have been examining ways to make the planet more habitable in the future, but it would probably take centuries before Mars became Earth-like in environment.
Who Is Winning the Race to Settle Mars?
NASA itself, along with every other international space agency, is vying to send humans to Mars and establish a permanent presence out there, but it’s the private sector that looks most capable at the moment, with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin leading the charge.
Why Do Colonizing Mars Raise Ethical Issues?
Ethical issues involve planetary protection, resource use, and the possibility of invading Mars with microbes from Earth. There is, however, also debate on whether the resources spent on space exploration should be used to address issues here on Earth.