Colonizing Mars

Index:
Mars (3)
How to go to mars (4-5)
Colonization of Mars (6-12)
Why should we go to mars? (13-15)
 Mars 
- Mars is the fourth planet in our solar system, 
- Mars was named after the roman god of war (just
like every planet in the solar system, excluding
earth)
- Mars has a diameter of  6,791 kilometres
- Highest temp: 20 degrees Celsius 
- Lowest Temp: -140 degrees Celsius 
- A day is 24 hours and 37 minutes long 
- Mars has a mass of  6.4169 x 1023 kg
-Mars has a gravity of 3.721m/s
- Number of satellite: 2 
 How can we get
to mars?
Currently, we have the technology that enables us to colonize mars and willing and
skilled participants for a mission to mars. However, before humans can go to mars,
there needs to be prior missions to scout for a good place for an outpost and store
resources and equipment. These missions are occurring now, such as the UAE's
Hope Probe, and the Perseverance Rover. 
However, it would be more beneficial for us to establish a Moon base that serves as
a hub for Mars missions. This is because rockets launching from the Moon would
take less fuel  than earth, since the moon is smaller and produces a smaller
gravitational field (1.6N/Kg) compared to earth (10N/Kg), and therefore rockets
would need less thrust to launch. This could allow space ship to carry more stuff for
colonizing the red planet
How can we get to
mars? (Continued)
We cannot simply launch to mars at any given time. This is because
Mars and the Earth orbit the Sun at different distances and speeds.
This causes their distance from each other to differ at different times.
Approximately every two years, Mars and Earth are closest together,
and this is the perfect position to get to Mars with the least amount of
fuel for rockets. This journey is 300 million miles. 
When launching rockets to Mars,  it is important to aim the rocket at
the position of Mars by the time the rocket reaches there, and not its
position during the launch time. Thrusts may be needed for the rocket
to correct its direction along the journey to mars, to make sure it is
able to reach there. This whole journey will take approximately 7-8
months. 
When packing for the journey to Mars, it is important to take only the
necessities, such as food, and the exact right amount as you would
need to decrease the mass of the rocket as much as possible.
 Energy Source
on Mars
Mars is very energy poor. Because of its distance from the
Sun solar power is only 40% effective as on earth and this is
also often obscured for days due to enormous dust storms,
therefore solar power will not be enough. Wind power would
not be feasible as well, since there's hardly an atmosphere.
Geothermal energy wouldn't work either since Mars's interior
is too cold. Therefore, nuclear energy might be the only
option, at least, for the beginning of the colony. The fuel and
reactor needs to come form earth since Mars doesn’t have
easily accessible radioactive elements. This source of energy
could power the first outpost for a few years. If nuclear fusion
has developed, this would be used later on as it is more
efficient and avoids nuclear fallout.
Nutrition on

Mars soil as a pH scale of 8-9, which is too alkaline for plant to

survive. neutralizing the soil  for plants to grow would be
extremely energy intensive, and slow, which is inefficient for our
astronaut. 
A solution to this could be aquaponics
- Allows both fish and plants to be grown by using a water cycle.
- Fresh water is put into the fish tank
- Old water is taken out with fish excrete to water plants and
supply with nutrients. 
- Allows all year farming
- great variety of plants 
Breathing
Mars's atmosphere is only 1% as dense as Earth
and is mostly made up of CO2. Humans cannot
survive with this atmosphere. This can be
solved by pressurizing habitats and filling them
with an artificial atmosphere made of nitrogen
and oxygen. These habitats will be rounded and
have smooth shapes to handle the great pressure
difference between the interior and exterior.
There would also have to be airlocks that are
very airtight. 
 Gravity
Mars only has 38% of Earth's surface gravity
which could cause muscle wasting bone loss and
cardiovascular problems. In the future, this can be
solved by setting up rotating living spaces which
create artificial gravity. When the living space spins,
centrifugal force acts to pull the inhabitants to the
outside and this process could be used to simulate
gravity. However, no such living spaces have been
invented yet and therefore the crew needs to exercise
effectively and very frequently to slow the
degradation down.
Protection from Mars does not have an extensive

radiation
magnetosphere or a dense atmosphere and
therefore half of all radiation coming from
space reaches the ground. This would increase
cancer risks significantly. This could be
prevented by shielding Mars habitats with a
thick layer of frozen CO2  which can be
harvested from the atmosphere. The level of
protection can increase by covering this with
another but with a meter of dirt. This would not
prevent all of the radiation from entering but
reduces is it enough to be survivable for long
periods of time. Remote controlled robots can
be used for routine work on the surface to
prevent exposure. 
Entertainment
Astronomers who will arrive on mars will be put under extreme pressure. With  very little contact from the outside, and being
forced to stay mostly indoor for two years, this could have a serious mental impact on the crew. In order to remain sane for
that period of time, astronomers will have to find ways to entertain themselves, but avoid going out as much as possible.
Entertaining activities:
- chess: this will not take a lot of space for the astronomers to bring, and would hardly feel repetitive due to the enormous
amount of situation
- journal : writing a journal could be another great possible way to entertain crewmembers, by telling their daily life on mars.
- card game, this game would allow everyone to join in, making it a great way for the entire astronomers to connect to one
another, and offer a variety of games 
- a Sport competition could motivate astronomers to exercise with high intensity, while also making them remain some
muscle strength
-video games: playing games  with local internet such as among us, portal 2, overcooked 2, etc... could be very entertaining,
and diverting for the astronomers, however, due to the limited access to energy, this should not be done too often.
How do you get food, water and oxygen to mars?

Food,
Food, water and oxygen are essential to survive, especially off They could get rations delivered to them like the ISS or they could
world. If we wish to colonize mars we would first need to provide use hydroponics and can grow food using water that they extract
these three things to our colonists to let them survive and become and artificial light, hydroponics is preferable because it allows a
sustainable. larger yield, needs no soil only water and nutrients and it conserves
to get water to mars, water.

Water would be extracted from underground and from soil, To get oxygen,
if people decide to build a colony near the poles of mars, they can They can use the water and extract the oxygen from it, with some
extract water from the ice caps and they can recycle their urine byproducts that could be usable for other uses.
Why should we go
to mars?
The colonization of mars is going to be humanity greatest
challenge yet, it will require astronomic amount of
resources, finance, and technological advancement, so
why should we do it?
 Economical
Benefit

Our specie is obsessed about economical growth, therefore, its

obvious to imagine we would get profit from this colonization
otherwise NASA and countless other space company wouldn’t get
fund for their project. Because mars has similar minerals than
earth, mining those minerals could turn out very profitable for the
economy. 
Scientific research The process of colonization will lead
to technical break through, because

in Mars
innovation has always been at its peak
when faced against a challenge.
Because Mars colonization will be our
greatest challenge yet, this could lead
to 3D printing, nuclear fusion (when
two atoms are fused together), etc...
Another reason why human want to
colonize Mars is that its the closest
planet to us in our solar system, and
the most promising one for holding
life. Since we are only at the start of
looking for alien life, mars seem like
the perfect place to start our research.
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