How Far We Are From Mars?

How Far We Are From Mars?

The search for life beyond our world has been going on for a very long time. The race of mankind to reach new worlds has followed closely. Billions of dollars go to research and development every year to innovate and discover new ways to sustain life in the harsh environments of alien worlds.

               Years of research have gone into developing technologies to help astronauts reach Mars and to make it safe. But it is well known that our planetary system has 8 planets, along with thousands of other celestial bodies.

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WHY MARS?

                          Out of 8 planets, 5 are completely inhabitable as per the current technological progress of mankind and will stay out of our capability for a long time. Mercury orbits very close to the Sun which makes living will make you feel better sitting on a frying pan.

The planets following the asteroids belt - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are composed almost entirely of gases. The absence of solid land pretty much rules them out of the equation. Venus is approx. the same size as Earth. This may mislead you thinking that this is the perfect paradise. But this ends as soon as we see closer. The atmosphere of Venus entirely consists of greenhouse gases that heat the planet above the average temperature of Mercury. It does not seem paradise anymore, does it?

Indeed, Mars is also not perfect. It is almost completely dry with a thin and small size atmosphere. But studies suggest that it contained liquid water at some point in the past. This means that it may have even life. This sparks the interest of mankind towards it.

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 PERCEPTION OF MARS OVER THE YEARS

                            The first record of Mars dates back to more than a thousand years and was done by Babylonian Astronomers. Mars was first observed by Galileo Galilei in 1610 by a telescope. Since then, our telescopes have improved a lot and we have seen the rusty red planet in all its Glory. Mars, named after a Roman God of war, has seen a lot of transformation, being seen as a red dot to being imaged perfectly.

OUR CURRENT PROGRESS TOWARDS MARS

                            Years of research and billions of funds have gone into planning and development for a sustaining a Mars mission. An organization named Mars One planned to send a cargo followed by a manned mission around 2024 but due to lack of funds, research and a launcher, it was canceled. If we look at our current rate of technological advancements, we can safely assume that we are going at a satisfactory pace but if we want a manned mission soon then the rate of our technological development seems to be somewhat slow and need some boost.

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WHEN ARE WE REACHING MARS? 

                             NASA is under presidential orders of sending humans to Mars by 2033. A recent independent report suggest that sending humans to Mars by 2033 in infeasible. In spite of all this, there are more dimensions to this question than it seems. The only thing that needs to be understood is that a slight increase in the pace of technological development may push mankind enough to send humans safely to Mars in the next 15-20 years. It is true that living on Mars and making it suitable for habitation may be the greatest challenge to mankind yet. But then, what adventure it is if not enough of a challenge.

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But, we going to make it someday. So, look up to the sky and say it to the Mars- ‘WE ARE COMING FOR YOU’.