Can life ecopoitically expand to mars? A query of worldwide interest in this era. The exploration of marshas been a priority for the space programs of several nations for decades, yet the prospect of a mannedexpedition recedes in the face of daunting and well-known challenges. Life can be termed as a planet-wide phenomenon whose components are continuously in motion to interact. However, for space –based civilizations to achieve growth and permanency requires local resources’ harnessing inautonomous and stable bio-generative life-support systems, energized by the Sun.
The strategyunderstates the habitable potential of a planet such as Mars, due to its Gravity-well, is intrinsicallycapable of hosting a global, uncontained biosphere similar to that of earth. A solar day on Mars is 24hours, 39 minutes and 35.24 seconds, making it feasible for the establishment.Lately, the confirmation of liquid water on the planet was favourable for the human-settlement.Though, the water is not drinkable, and scientists need to figure out ways to use it as a life-supportingresource.
Other major concern is, the Exposure to Dangerous Radiations. Due to the absence of globalmagnetic field with respect to earths Geo-magnetic field, allows a significant amount of ionizingradiation which is 2.5 times higher than at the International Space Station reach the Martian Surface.Since there is lack of plate-tectonics on the planet Mars, it is unable to recycle any of its carbon-dioxideback into its atmosphere so couldn’t sustain a significant greenhouse effect, making the planet muchcolder than the Earth, accompanied with the fact that maximum solar solar irradiance on Mars is about590W/m^2 compared to about 1000W/m^2 at the Earth’s surface.
Martian surface temperature rangewidely from as little as 140K at the winter pole to 300K on the day side during summer. According toHohmann Transfer Orbit, it would take nine months in space to reach Mars. Also, it requires less energyper unit mass to reach from Earth. Another aspect of a successful colonization is Economics. One of themajor rising economic problem is the cosmic up-front investment required for this venture.The international agencies for Space Research, one of them being NASA, instigated a Three-phase pathto colonize the planet. Beginning from, “Earth Reliant”, “Provoking Ground”, concluding with “EarthIndependent”.A persistent planetary protection is required to avoid the risk of contaminating life detectionexperiments and possibly the planet too.
Containment is the only option , but also a major challenge.Over the time, many or perhaps all the challenges in colonizing Mars could be overcome through theapplication of Geoengineering , Terraforming. From the lethal exposure to radiation to the restorationof green-house effect. There may come a day when, after generations of terraforming and numerouswaves of colonists, that the mars will begin to have a viable economy as well, leading to a successfulcolonization!
