Mankind has been obsessed with the red planet the moment we discovered it. We have dreamt of going to Mars even before the first man stepped foot on the moon. The planet has been the subject of numerous sci-fi movies and TV shows, tapping our imagination and our sense of exploration. However, after many decades of planning and advancements in technology, humans are now finally ready to make that difficult journey to Mars.

President Trump had ordered a mandate for NASA to get humans to Mars as early as 2033. NASA complied with the request and responded with one of the most detailed plans to date, which includes a five-phase procedure to get us there.

© NASA

According to NASA’s plans, we are in Phase 0 where the space agency is conducting tests at the international space station and is working in partnership with various private companies to achieve the necessary infrastructure for the mission. Phase 1 will later include testing six SLS rockets, which will deliver components and supplies to Deep Space Gateway. DSG will be the new space station that will be built near the moon, and will act as a hub for astronauts who will later embark on their journey to Mars.

© NASA

Phase 2 will entail launching the Deep Space Transport tube towards the DSG in 2027, 2028 and 2029. According to NASA, astronauts will live in these tubes for 400 days. Phase 3 will see the Deep Space Transport get restocked with supplies in 2030 while the final phase will be the trip to Mars in 2033.

The main challenge for NASA would be to keep this mission within the budget, however, they will face other obstacles, which might prove to be harder to achieve. Keeping astronauts happy and healthy will also be one of their main priorities as it will be the longest journey man would embark in space. It also entails having food, water and air fully stocked up to ensure their health and safety as it will be a two-three year round-trip.

© NASA

Mental health will be one of the chief concerns for the space agency as the astronauts will be inhabiting a tube that will be sealed in space for years at a time. NASA is also facing stiff competition from private space companies such as SpaceX and Boeing who are trying to get to the red planet by 2022.

Source: Futurism

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