What it takes to live on the Red Planet 

Mars is our closest neighbour, the planet next door, you might say. After all, it is that red dot visible to bare human eyes on a clear night sky. Hop on a space vehicle from Earth and you will reach the planet in less than six months!   

The possibility of life on Mars has fascinated humans for generations. It has been the subject of endless science-fiction novels and films too. Thanks to extensive research and developments in space technology, we are getting closer to realising this dream. Almost all space agencies have Mars on their minds and preparations are in full swing to send humans to Mars and create an outpost of civilization there.  

Possible, but not easy 
Earth and Mars have many interesting similarities but also great differences. Much like Earth, Mars has polar caps, evidence of surface and subsurface water, a daily cycle that lasts close to 24 hours, and a tilted axis that causes seasonal variations.  

However, there challenging differences too! 

• Mars is extremely cold to sustain human life 
• It has about one-third the gravity of Earth 
• It has a very thin atmosphere compared to Earth and it is mostly carbon dioxide  
• Its surface is drier than the driest deserts on Earth 
• The Martian surface is constantly exposed to a high dose of cosmic radiation 

We may not be able to live the same way as we do on Earth, yet the idea of ‘Human Colony on Mars’ is a possibility. With the right technology we could dip our toes in the second most-habitable planet of the solar system.  

Your Mars habitat: What will it look like? 
That’s an interesting question if you are a space enthusiast. Let’s find out what space agencies and special architects have to say. They’ve, in fact, come up with diverse models for Mars habitat. These include lava tubes, 3-D printed bubbles, habitats built using regolith (the loose soil and rocks found on Mars) and multi-level homes that stand upright on the surface. But all these habitats will need to be self-sustaining, sealed against the thin atmosphere, and capable of supporting life for extended periods without support from Earth. The habitat should provide warm temperature and breathable air. It must have an air and water recycling system as well as food and equipment reserves.  

What about food and water?  
Martian soil has the essential nutrients plants need to survive. However, certain crops will have to be grown in special environments with tolerable temperatures.  

On Mars, water exists in the form of ice on its poles and just beneath its dusty surface. In theory, accessing that water could require digging it up and baking it on an oven, or beaming microwaves at the soil and extracting the water vapour. No missions have attempted to extract water from Mars yet.  

Human health 
Humans will have to wear spacesuits — all the time — to keep themselves warm and shield themselves from solar and cosmic radiation on Mars. The impact of this planet’s environment on human health is still unknown though. While space journey can impact bone, muscle and heart health of humans, prolonged exposure to radiation may cause cancer.  

All of these challenges—and more—await the first humans who will set foot on Mars. To mimic Earth-like environment on Mars and build a city there is not only a Herculean task but also extremely expensive. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a strong advocate of Mars colonisation, estimated the cost to build a city in Mars to be around $100 billion to $10 trillion!   Well, that’s a ‘Mar(s)sive’ project!