Our neighboring planet, Mars has intrigued us for decades, perhaps even more so than the moon. In recent years, significant technological advancements have made Mars exploration not only possible but also increasingly more ambitious.

As we send more robotic rovers to Mars, and even consider potentially sending humans there, some pressing questions remain. For example:

• Does Mars exploration serve any practical purpose?
• Should mankind even be thinking about colonizing the Red Planet?

Technologies That Could Made Mars Colonization A Reality

Let’s first talk about if colonizing Mars is even humanly possible. First of all, you must know a journey to Mars is not a small feat at all. It is fraught with challenges like vast distances, extreme harsh environments, and communication delays.

Nevertheless, it does seems like mankind is on the verge of being able to send humans to Mars. This is because scientists and engineers have made great strides in technological advancements. For example:

1. Advanced Propulsion System

Traditional fuel-burning rockets, like those used in NASA’s earlier programs get missions off Earth. However, to reduce travel time to Mars, researchers are developing nuclear thermal propulsion and ion thrusters. These technologies promise faster and more efficient travel.

2. Autonomous Robotics

Here on Earth, people are concerned about losing their jobs to artificial intelligence (AI). For Mars rovers however, such as the Curiosity and Perseverance, AI is essential in navigating terrain independently. Given the 20-minute communication delay, autonomy in the robots is essential for real-time decision-making.

Anyway, we might as well be prepared for a future where humanoid robots will walk among us because it looks like AI will continue to evolve and seep into our world.

3. In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)

Transporting everything from Earth is extremely costly. We even need to transport air there as the air on Mars contains very little oxygen.

By the way, does it makes you wonder why we are so fascinated with Mars if we cannot even breathe there? Sometimes, I wonder if Mars was actually the Garden of Eden depicted in the Genesis story in the Holy Bible. Perhaps Mars looks barren and dead because the mankind race have been kicked out of the garden by GOD after our first parents, sinned against GOD. Are we subconsciously longing to go home to Mars?

Anyway, since there is no breathable air on Mars, we have to rely on our technologies if we are to send to humans to Mars. Technologies like MOXIE (Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment) can produce oxygen from Martian carbon dioxide, paving the way for future manned missions.

4. Radiation Protection Systems

On Mars, there isn’t a magnetic field unlike here on Earth. This means there are high levels of radiation on the planet. This is obviously a serious problem that must be overcome before any humans can be sent there.

Thus, engineers are devising radiation-shielding habitats using Martian soil and advanced materials with an aim to protect future astronauts.

5. Advanced 3D Printing Technology

Here on Earth, most people only utilize 3D printing as a mere hobby or for small ventures. Out there on Mars though, it is a highly essential technology that is hope will be able to build sustainable habitats.

Researchers are now exploring 3D printing using Martian regolith. If successful, it means we get to reduce the need to ship construction materials from Earth.

Why Explore or Colonize Mars?

As you can see, colonizing Mars with humans present great challenges even if the journey is successful. Bear in mind that this is not a science fiction movie where everything seems to always work out.

What is it about Mars that captivates the curiosity and interest of very smart scientists and engineers? Let’s look at some possible reasons:

1. Scientific and Religious Discovery

Mars offers clues to fundamental questions of the origins of mankind. We could answer big questions like “Did life ever exist beyond Earth?” or  “Are we alone in the universe?”

If we do something find something significant on Mars, it could profoundly alter what we think about religions or even God.

Furthermore, understanding Mars’ climate and geology can helps us better grasp planetary evolution, including Earth’s future.

2. Technological Advancements

Mankind would benefit from any technological advancements that sparked from our explorations on Mars. Technologies developed for space often can be adapted to Earth applications. For example, we can all benefit from improved water filtration and better medical imaging devices.

3. Survival of the Human Species

It was Elon Musk who popularized the notion of saving mankind by colonizing Mars. For a visionary like Elon, this is not a joking matter as he has proven that his company, SpaceX is capable of building highly efficient rockets. Well, perhaps Elon is not that crazy for believing that we need a second planet.

After all, Earth is constantly under threat of being destroyed by mega asteroid strikes. Even if that never happens, many of us seem to believe that climate change and political unrest will eventually bring an end to our  civilizations.

4. Economic Opportunities

You can certainly leave it to mankind if you want to make a profit out of something. For all we know, entrepreneurs and tycoons perhaps have been secretly funding the explorations on Mars.

For example, space tourism would certainly be a very profitable business if we can make travelling to outer space as safe as air travel.

Mining for natural resources on Mars would also be a huge industry just like the mining industries here on Earth. The economic potentials that can arise from Mars is practically limitless if we ever do set foot there.

Should We Seek to Colonize Mars?

Although Mars may somewhat serve as a second planet for  mankind with our technological prowess, we still must question why we should do it.

The cost to explore Mars alone is obviously exorbitantly expensive. Wouldn’t the funds be better spent on addressing Earth’s many pressing issues? For example, poverty, climate change and affordable healthcare are just some of the global issues that are plaguing mankind.

Furthermore, the atmosphere on Mars is not naturally human livable. Here on Earth, we know that prolonged exposure to radiation can cause cancers, psychological stress and various other issues.

There are also ethical concerns. If mankind as a species has failed in so many aspects in building peaceful and everlasting civilizations, why should we then seek to exploit the resources of another planet?

Final Thoughts

Mars exploration is no longer science fiction and it looks like it will be an an ongoing reality. Colonizing Mars however is another feat all together.

While our technological advancements may one day enable to mankind to step foot onto Mars, we must tread carefully. At the end of the day, the care for Earth should still be our primary concern rather than focus on a distant planet that is not totally human livable.

Nonetheless, we should not cease to explore what lies beyond Earth. After all, whatever that we may encounter or stumble upon out there could provide concrete answers to some of mankind’s biggest questions like “Are we alone in the universe?”