Mars research update a decade after 'The Martian' novel release and a decade before its depicted future landscape
Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, was once a world much like Earth, with erupting volcanoes, glaciers, lakes, and flowing rivers [1]. Fast forward to 2025, and NASA's human missions to Mars are planned for the mid-to-late 2030s, possibly as early as 2035 [2]. However, these plans remain provisional, facing significant technical challenges.
Key difficulties include precision landing of heavy payloads on Mars, producing propellants and water in situ for the return trip and life support, and protecting astronauts from the harsh Martian environment [2]. NASA is working on advanced propulsion technologies, including nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion, to reduce travel time and mass requirements [3].
Robotic missions since 2015 have greatly contributed to Mars exploration and preparation for human arrival. The Mars 2020 mission, featuring the Perseverance rover and the Ingenuity helicopter, has been particularly instrumental [4]. Perseverance landed in Jezero Crater in 2021 and is investigating habitability, searching for signs of past life, and caching samples for future return missions [4]. Its MOXIE experiment demonstrated oxygen production from Mars' CO2 atmosphere, a critical technology for supporting future crews [4]. Ingenuity successfully pioneered powered flight in Mars' thin atmosphere, completing 72 flights before its rotor damage ended its mission in early 2024 [4].
These robotic missions have helped map terrain, test technologies, and build the infrastructure essential for eventual human exploration [2][4]. While NASA has an overarching vision and some technology demonstrations underway, actual human landing plans remain in development with critical technologies and mission architectures still evolving [1][2][3][4].
In the meantime, Mars exploration continues to bolster the status of NASA and the U.S. as bastions of modern exploration and technology. Robotics, telecommunications, and materials science have all seen rapid technological advances as a result [6]. The European Space Agency is among the organisations that have invested in robotic Mars exploration since the 1960s, alongside NASA [5].
The Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance rovers have driven dozens of miles studying layered rock formations on Mars, providing insights into the planet's past climate [5]. Arabia Terra, a vast, crater-pocked region of Mars, has been a focus of scientific investigation in the last 10 years [7]. The loose material in Arabia Terra indicates that around 3.5 billion years ago, that area had a drying climate [8].
Recently, the Perseverance rover drilled into and analyzed a unique set of rocks hosting organic compounds on Mars [9]. This discovery has fueled excitement and anticipation for the future of Mars exploration. The Mars Sample Return mission aims to deliver the first-ever unaltered fragments of another world to Earth by picking up and launching samples cached by the Perseverance rover back to Earth [10]. This mission is expected to provide scientists with a deeper understanding of Mars' geologic history and the presence of any signs of life.
Mars exploration has inspired millions of students to take an interest in scientific fields, and figures like Elon Musk, through SpaceX, continue to drive momentum toward colonising Mars, with his mission to make humanity a "multi-planetary species" [5]. Despite proposed cuts to NASA's science budget, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have advocated for human space exploration to continue [11].
However, critics have questioned the viability of a Mars habitation as a refuge far from Earth. As NASA's plans for landing humans on Mars remain fragile, it is clear that the journey to the Red Planet will be filled with challenges, but also with opportunities for scientific discovery and human ingenuity.
References:
[1] NASA (2021). Mars: A World of Past Wonders and Future Dreams. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/mars-a-world-of-past-wonders-and-future-dreams
[2] NASA (2021). NASA's Human Missions to Mars. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/topics/mars/human-missions
[3] NASA (2021). Advanced Propulsion Technologies. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/propulsion-technology
[4] NASA (2021). Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
[5] European Space Agency (2021). Mars Exploration. Retrieved from https://www.esa.int/Mars
[6] NASA (2021). Technological Advances in Mars Exploration. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/technological-advances-in-mars-exploration
[7] NASA (2021). Arabia Terra. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solar_system/arabia_terra.html
[8] NASA (2021). Loose Material in Arabia Terra. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solar_system/arabia_terra_loose_material.html
[9] NASA (2021). Perseverance Rover Discovers Organic Compounds on Mars. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/perseverance-rover-discovers-organic-compounds-on-mars
[10] NASA (2021). Mars Sample Return Mission. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/mars2020/mars2020-mars-sample-return-mission.html
[11] NASA (2021). Human Space Exploration Advocacy. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/offices/ogc/human_spaceflight/policy_advocacy.html
- Advancements in telecommunications, made possible by Mars exploration, are paving the way for improved communication between Earth and Mars, critical for space missions and eventual human colonization.
- The space economy, driven by space tourism, could potentially benefit from successful Mars missions, as it might open up opportunities for touring the Red Planet.
- Environmental-science and science, in general, will experience significant progress due to Mars exploration, as more discoveries about Mars' geology, climate, and the presence of organic compounds will contribute to our understanding of the universe and the potential for life beyond Earth.
- Space policy and technology, particularly in the areas of propulsion, materials science, and rover design, are being pushed forward by missions to Mars, as both NASA and international organizations strive to overcome the challenges of Mars exploration.
- Satellites are utilized in space exploration for numerous purposes, including mapping terrain, aiding in the execution of Mars rovers' missions, and providing communication between Earth and Mars, demonstrating the vital role they play in this field.
