NASA Released 3-Phase Plan To Bring Humans To Mars

A few days ago, I watched the movie The Martian. It was so well done that a person could think it was a true story — some did. But when I walked out, I felt a sense of wonder, but also a sense of sadness. Sure, we went to the Moon in 1969, and then a few more times, but what then? We built the International Space Station! It’s one of the biggest projects completed by mankind, but it gets lost in the politics and budget talks to the point people question its need.

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The problem with space lately is that there hasn’t been a new big thing. There has been anything to hope for. When the Apollo program ended, people weren’t saddened by the end of it because the Shuttle program began! When one good thing ended, another amazing thing followed. People get excited when the one thing that changes the world is replaced by something that is even better.

The problem is that the Shuttle program ended… and then there was nothing. America had to pay Russia to hitch rides to the ISS — which was largely funded by the USA. NASA became an even more underfunded program that needs that backing of the American industry. Which is why it makes me proud that NASA has announced its 3-phased plan to take us to Mars.

“We are on a journey to Mars,” read the NASA report. “In the next few decades, NASA will take steps toward establishing a sustainable human presence beyond Earth, not just to visit but to stay.”

You can read the entire report here. But I feel it is my duty as a space loving person to break it down to you:

First Phase: Research on the ISS for learning the effects of being in space for that long. Plus more development of the SLS (Space Launch System)

Second Phase: Researching cislunar space — basically learning the in between area of the Earth and the Moon. Since we haven’t really been past that, it sounds reasonable. We can’t just shoot humans off to Mars without knowing all there is to know. The next part of this phase is the Asteroid Redirect Mission. This includes sending a probe to an asteroid, taking samples, and then bringing it back. This will hopefully be done by 2025. Something like this has been put forth before.

Third Phase: Finally, we send astronauts to orbit Mars and land on one of its moons. This will lead to the big jump: Landing on Mars with all the equipment we need to get on and off the Red Planet safety. To paraphrase Matt Damon in The Martian: “We have to science the shit out of this thing.”

I obviously summarized this feat in a few sentences, but you should really read the NASA document linked below. It gives me hope of the NASA I grew up reading about, and not the NASA that has to come to Washington D.C. like the orphan child Oliver asking, “Please, sir, I want some more.”

Photo (Via NASA)

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Jeff Sorensen is an author, writer and occasional comedian living in Detroit, Michigan. You can look for more of his work on The Huffington Post, UPROXX, BGR and by just looking up his name.

Contact: jeff@socialunderground.com