When Should You Book Your Ticket To Mars?

For centuries, mankind has looked to the stars and planets and dreamed of visiting such places. We observe in awe as astrological events occur, feeling a slight bit of envy that we are unable to view them close-up with our own eyes. However, these thoughts and dreams are no longer fantasy. In fact, they have become a very stark reality. In 1610, Galileo Galilei first observed the planet Mars through a telescope. And now, in 2021, we are preparing to visit it.

Why Go to Mars?

So, why go to Mars in the first place? The short answer: because humans suck. We've taken Earth for granted, and we have ruined many aspects of it. If we continue the current path we are on, we will put our own existence at stake. However, if we want to create a sustainable civilization in which we will have to use a lot of energy and space, it is imperative that we make life multi-planetary. And no better place to start this process than Mars.

Mars, the Red Planet.

The Logistics of Mars

Being only 140 million miles away on average, Mars is one of Earth's closest habitable neighbors. And with a day length of 24 hours and 37 minutes, the days on Mars would be about the same length as the days on Earth. According to these statistics, Mars is a no-brainer. However, there is one thing that could complicate the process: gravity.

Mars is smaller than Earth. Therefore, the gravitational force on Mars is smaller. Mars only has about 38% of the gravitational force that Earth does. That will definitely be a major factor to work around. If we can manage to work around gravity, then there is the obvious fact that the air in Mars' atmosphere is not suitable to breathe. If you were going to go outside, you would have to wear a spacesuit to supply oxygen to your body. The need for oxygen is another complication that would have to be sorted out. Scientists and engineers have been creating machines to assist in the process of removing reclaiming oxygen gas from used oxygen tanks, suits, and structures.

So, let's say we got the gravity and oxygen problems sorted out. How are we going to get there? Well, Elon Musk, the man who seemingly has an answer to everything, has a plan. He has designed an intricate and detailed plan to get humans to Mars. Musk's company, SpaceX, has designed multiple rockets for many different tasks. The one that will be the primary rocket for Mars missions, though, is known as Starship. According to SpaceX, "Starship will be [is] the world's most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, with the ability to carry in excess of 100 metric tonnes to Earth orbit." As of now, Starship has had one test flight. The entire mission was successful, aside from the landing. There was a slight miscalculation and malfunction that caused part of it to combust while landing. However, that is an easy fix, and SpaceX saw it as a success. 

When Will This All Happen?

With all of the emerging technology, and the futuristic technology that already exists, when should we expect to land on Mars? Or, when should you book your ticket? Elon Musk wants to be the frontrunner for Mars missions and has a goal of landing the first Starship on the Red Planet as soon as 2024. However, this mission wouldn't have any passengers. Instead, it would be strictly cargo in preparation for humans to land on Mars at a later date. According to CNBC, "Elon Musk is 'highly confident' SpaceX will land humans on Mars by 2026." Musk is known for having very ambitious timelines, but given his recent success, it is certainly not out of the question. If 2026 is the year mankind takes its first steps on Mars, that will leave the door open for the rest of this century. By the end of the century, there could be a fully sustainable and functional colony on Mars. These are the first steps to having an interplanetary species. And as technology continues to improve, the speed of development will increase exponentially.

So, when should you book your ticket to Mars? If you want to be there and actually have other people around you and something to do, probably no earlier than 2050. However, if you would like to be among the first to set foot on the Red Planet, you can always train to try to become an astronaut. If you are among the first to set foot on Mars, though, you likely won't come back to Earth. It's a commitment, but a commitment that will greatly benefit humanity. The choice is yours. Either way, whether you are on Earth when the first step is taken on Mars, or you are the first person to set foot on the planet, it will be an exciting and hopeful day for humanity.

Works Cited

CNBC. 1 Dec. 2020, www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/elon-musk-highly-confident-spacex-will-land-humans-on-mars-by-2026.html. Accessed 10 Jan. 2021.

Mars Red Planet Starry. Pixabay, pixabay.com/photos/mars-red-planet-planet-starry-sky-11012/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2021.

PBS NOVA. 16 Mar. 2018, www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/want-to-live-in-a-treehouse-on-mars/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.

Space.com. 19 May 2020, www.space.com/mars-colony-human-genetic-engineering-tardigrades.html. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.

"SpaceX - Missions: Mars." SpaceX, www.spacex.com/human-spaceflight/mars/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.