• Question: will it be possible to live on mars soon??????????

    Asked by lukefleming to Amy, Andy, Georgia, Ollie on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Ollie Russell

      Ollie Russell answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      I think we’ll have to work out how to get there first. Ive we can develpo the technology to reach the planet and land safely on it, then I think it will be realtively easy for us to stay there for a while. I think the main problem is that if something goes wrong, then help will take about 9 months to get there. Also, it’ll be incredibly expensive, so I think that the money that would be spent on reaching another planet would be better used for other things here on Earth.

      Although if we do manage it I’d love to go!

    • Photo: Amy Reeve

      Amy Reeve answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Hi Luke,

      I think that colonisation of other planets is something that we will have to consider at some point. I think eventually it will be possible but not for many years. the first step would be a test colony of scientists and astronauts which would live there for a while before ‘ordinary’ humans could go. I don’t think this will happen in our lifetimes. it would be soooo cool to go if we could though. it would be hellishly expensive i would imagine though! best get saving now!! ha ha!

    • Photo: Andy MacLeod

      Andy MacLeod answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Hi Luke. I’m sure it will be possible eventually, but probably not any time soon.

      There are several difficulties involved in colonisation of another planet, problems with atmosphere, pressure, gravity, temperature that are different from what we’re used to on earth.

      The colony would essentially have to be self-sufficient. The only input that could be relied upon would be the light of the sun. There is evidence for limited water on Mars, but probably not enough to sustain a whole community.

      It would also take time for the first astronauts to get there, and the journey will be hard. There’s a project going on in Russia to simulate the kind of conditions that might be experienced on a mission to Mars. They’ve been there for over a year, and “landed” a few months ago. They’re due back later in the year.

      http://www.esa.int/esaMI/Mars500/
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12446405

Comments