Overview of Mars

Mars, also known as Mars, is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. Sometimes this planet is also known as Mars. It is often referred to as "Red Planet" , because iron oxide is present abundantly on the planet's surface making its surface appear red.

Mars is a rocky planet with a thin atmosphere, having features on the surface that resemble both craters on the Moon and volcanoes, valleys, deserts and polar ice caps of Earth.

Mars was taken by the Viking 1 orbiter in 1980.

Physical properties of Mars

Mars's radius is approximately half that of the Earth's radius. Its density is smaller than that of the Earth, with its volume being only 15% of Earth's volume and its mass is only 11%. The surface area of ​​the red planet is only slightly smaller than the total land area on Earth.

Scientists have found that the Martian surface is composed mainly of basalt. Some evidence suggests that there is a place on the surface of Mars that is richer in silicon than basalt, and may be similar to the above andesite rocks on Earth.

Mars soil is weakly alkaline and contains elements such as magnesium, sodium, potassium and chlorine. These nutrients are found in the soil on the Earth, and are necessary for plant growth.

Geomorphology on Mars strongly suggests that liquid water once existed on the surface of the planet.

The atmosphere of Mars

Mars lost its magnetosphere 4 billion years ago, so the solar wind interacts directly with the planet's ionosphere, reducing atmospheric density by gradually stripping atoms at the outermost layer of atmosphere.

The Martian atmosphere contains 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon and contains traces of oxygen and steam. The atmosphere is quite dusty, containing dust particles about 1.5 µm in diameter, making the Mars sky yellow brown when standing from its surface.

The fragile atmosphere of Mars, viewed from the horizon in a low-orbit shot.

Climate on Mars

Among the planets in the solar system, the seasons on Mars are most similar to those on Earth, due to the nearness of the tilt of the axis of rotation on the two planets. Season lengths on Mars are about twice that of the Earth, since the distance from Mars to the greater Sun leads to one year on the planet by about two years on Earth. Mars temperature varies from very low temperatures of -87 ° C during winter periods in the poles to -5 ° C in the summer.

The orbit of Mars

The average distance from Mars to the Sun is about 230 million kilometers (1.5 AU) and its orbital cycle is equal to 687 Earth days.

Satellite of Mars

Mars has two relatively small natural satellites, Phobos and Deimos, which orbit around fairly close orbits.

Life on Mars

Many evidence of support for Mars has previously had conditions for a more developed life than it is today, but whether living creatures that existed is still a mystery.

Explore Mars

Robot Spirit landed on Mars in 2004.

Dozens of space ships, including orbits, amphibious ships, and self-propelled robots, have been sent to Mars by the Soviet Union, the United States, Europe, and Japan to study the surface, climate, and geography. Red planet substance.

Vessels operating until 2011 include Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (from 2006), Mars Express (from 2003), 2001 Mars Odyssey (since 2001), and on the surface are Opportunity robot (since 2004). Recent missions include Mars Global Surveyor (1997–2006) and Spirit Self-Propelled Robot (2004–2010).

Plan to send people to Mars

The ESA hopes to bring people to set foot on Mars between 2030 and 2035. This process will follow after successfully launching large ships to the planet, starting with the ExoMars and missions. NASA-ESA cooperation to send back to Earth a sample of Mars.

The process of human exploration of the United States has been defined as a long-term goal in the 2004 Space Explorer Perspective program published by President George W. Bush. With the plan to build the Orion ship to bring people back to the Moon in the 2020s is considered a fundamental step in the process of bringing people to Mars. On September 28, 2007, NASA head Michael D. Griffin stated that NASA aims to send people to Mars in 2037.