Robots replace humans who walk to Mars

In order to send people to Mars, the team of scientists needs to consider landing a spacecraft weighing about 10 tons.

The question of whether humans can survive on Mars once again caught the attention after the US space agency (NASA) unveiled the self-propelled robot Mars 2020 designed specifically to explore the planet. Red on December 27.

Mars 2020 is responsible for collecting samples to conduct analysis and evaluation of potential resources available on Mars, including: air, soil, water . as well as how to exploit resources. This resource to prepare for human expeditions in the future.

British design experts sketch a prototype of a house on Mars - (Image: SWNS)

Expect Mars 2020

So far, the evidence gathered shows that Mars was once a place filled with water, warmer, and a thicker atmosphere, creating a habitable environment, making the planet an attractive option. lead to humans.

In addition, scientists are particularly interested in Mars because this is the planet with the closest structure to Earth in the solar system.

In order to reduce the costs and risks for humans when exploring Mars, NASA has already deployed missions using self-propelled robots to learn about the characteristics of the Red planet as well as the potential risks for humans when up there.

The Mars 2020 self-propelled robot, launched on December 27, will not only look for traces of ancient life but also pave the way for future human-related missions.

Jim Green, director of NASA's Planetary Science Board (PSD), told USA Today that humans are fully capable of surviving on Mars in the future.

Mr. Green's belief stems from the discovery of Martian discoveries of basic building blocks in ancient organic matter in a layer of sedimentary rock dating back 3 billion years near the surface rock. June 2018.

The basic building blocks , also known as the first bricks laying the foundations of life, can be formed anywhere in the solar system.

According to Sky News, the frequency with which building blocks form proteins and living organisms remains an unanswered question, but the discovery of building blocks makes life on the Red Planet increasingly. become more realistic.

In addition, Mars also brings the magical natural beauty: a large canyon nearly the width of the United States and a volcano the size of Arizona. According to Mr. Green, the Red Planet can give people a "completely new life with new scenes".

After the self-propelled robot is a space ship?

NASA plans to send humans to Mars by 2040, but it depends on many factors to make this goal a reality.

Some of the difficulties scientists have to solve before sending humans to Mars, according to Mr. Green, are to land and take off the spacecraft from the planet's surface. In addition, people need to wear space suits during Mars time, get used to the dust storm season as well as build infrastructure and try to produce oxygen on Mars.

So far, NASA has only been able to land a 1-tonne device on the surface of Mars, such as the 2020 Mars self-propelled robot weighing 1.05 tons. In order to send people to Mars, the team of scientists needs to consider landing a spacecraft weighing about 10 tons.

"Somewhere in the next decade, we plan to launch a spaceship off the surface of Mars and return," Mr. Green said. In addition, Mr. Green also said that 3D printers can rely on dust samples on the Red Planet to design human habitation.

In June 2018, Curiosity also discovered that Mars is emitting large amounts of methane, which could be a sign of bacterial life on the Red Planet, according to the New York Times . this gas. On Earth, bacteria called mathanogens live in anaerobic places and release methane as a form of waste.

However, NASA says the findings on organic matter and methane are only "preliminary results" because organic molecules can also be generated from abiotic reactions and need to be continued. Further analysis before making a final decision.

However, Thomas Zurbuchen, manager of NASA's Science Mission Board, said the new findings also help "strengthen hopes of a planet that may have once existed".

Going to Mars today is still a difficult journey and it will be even more difficult for humans to set foot on Mars, because we have to "pack everything " to survive a trip to the neighboring planet. and return safely.

The mission to Mars will be easier if we can use the resources available on the planet, especially water, because water is a valuable resource in human expeditions.