Final Project

Katherine R.

Legislator:  Gonzalo Barrientos, Senator

Why Mars?

For centuries people dreamed of the possibility to lift off the ground and go well beyond the limitations set by gravity; acting upon this dream, two courageous brothers built and flew the airplane.  Many had a vision to fly out of our own atmosphere’s boundaries, and responding to this vision, on April 12^th, 1961, the first human set off into the vast greatness that is Outer Space.  On July 20^th, 1969, America landed and walked on the Moon, again furthering the dream by exploration of our mysterious Solar System.  And now: Mars.  Question is . . .Why?

In this essay, I will not only explain the details of why humans feel the need to cross the galaxy on what may be a one-way trip to the red planet, but also why people wish to transverse space at all.

First, why Mars?  Why explore this enigmatic red planet?  Well, people here on Earth have many reasons.  For starters, Mars’ ice caps contain both carbon dioxide ice and water ice.  In the water ice, a single water molecule is composed of one part oxygen and two parts hydrogen.  These two elements by themselves and together could be very helpful to humans.  Rocket fuel is made of liquid hydrogen and oxygen.  Humans breathe in oxygen, which is recycled by plants here on Earth.  Their combined efforts give people water, a source we live on.  The ability to mine these ice caps could aid humans now and in the days to come.

And with the water ice on Mars, the planet could possibly become a home for future generations.  Already articles-, reports-, even books on the subject of colonization have been published.  Scientists have been researching this prospect for many years.  Living on Mars could simplify living here on Earth.  There would be less overcrowding and, if time allowed, Mars could be made to produce many of the same resources that Earth generates, possibly through a process called terraforming.

What if humans could reside on this heavenly body?  Well, this should be not only a question of what if, but how.  How could humans live on Mars when the atmosphere is composed of 95% carbon dioxide and hardly any oxygen- one of the few elements human beings need to live?  As of this writing, habitats have been designed that will hopefully allow humans to withstand the atmosphere and the weather of Mars, allowing people to exist on the planet.  These structures may even lead to permanent living on Mars. 

Colonization is not the only reason for humans to want to examine Mars; there’s also the possibility of life on the red planet- a subject that would help humans learn more about the planet and the solar system around it.  On August 7^th, 1996, history was made as NASA called a press conference during which scientists announced vague evidence, which indicated that a meteorite from Mars contained fossil traces of ancient living organisms.  This meteorite was found in Antarctica, where others like it were also recovered.  Finding life on Mars could answer many questions asked about the planet, like it’s history or the planet itself- answers that could also aid humans in better understanding our own planet, Earth.

Exploring Mars and the rest of the solar system could prove, and is proving, to be very beneficial in adding to humans’ vast experience and knowledge of Space.  But just think: not even half a century ago, everything that has been accomplished by Space Exploration programs were dreams, visualized by creative minds that have done so much to aid mankind in its continuing curiosity of the universe around us. 

I conclude this essay with words that seemingly began humanity’s exploration of Outer Space.  These words, spoken on May 25^th, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, sparked the dream of sending man to the moon, a dream accomplished just 8 years later on July 20^th, 1969:    

"First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space . . .but in a very real sense, it will not be one man going to the moon - if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire nation.  For all of us must work to put him there.”                                                                                                  -John F. Kennedy     

Sources

1. Think Mars: The Business of Mars, Why Mars?
http://www.thinkmars.net/humanstomars/whymars.html

2. Unit 12: Mars Live!, Terraforming
http://aerospacescholars.org/scholars/earthmars/unit6/terraforming.htm

3. Meteorites from Mars!, Martian Meteorites
http://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/antmet/marsmets/Text.htm  

4. Allan Treiman, Microbes in a Martian Meteorite?
http://www.skypub.com/news/special/9904microbes.html

5. Unit 7: Mars of the Mind, Life on Mars
http://aerospacescholars.org/scholars/earthmars/unit1/life_on_mars.htm

6. Unit 1: All Systems Go!, Why We Fly
http://aerospacescholars.org/scholars/earthstationmoon/UNIT1/
chapters/U1_CHAPTER2/WhyWeFly.htm

Last Updated: 07/06/01