Nasa has detailed its long-term plan for astronauts to research, explore and eventually live on Mars.

Called Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration, the report is Nasa's the most detailed plan yet and spells out the incremental strategy necessary to develop and test essential technologies, explore human health implications and further understand what happens when we enter deep space for long periods of time.

Gallery: Life on Mars: Nasa unveils ambitious plan for human colony Gallery Gallery: Life on Mars: Nasa unveils ambitious plan for human colony + 7

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Nasa has identified three different thresholds, each with its own challenges, that have the potential to take us all much closer to actually living on Mars decades down the line.

The first is Earth Reliant, which is solely focused on performing more research aboard the International Space Station. This will include testing equipment and further understanding more about health in space and the implications of deep space missions that could span decades.

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Next up is Proving Ground, when the research gathered throughout the initial stage is actually applied to complex operations. As part of this Nasa will try and understand how people can live and work in deep space -- yet still return to Earth. The space agency said the main concerns were system reliability and developing self-reliance.

Fosters


Nasa has been investing in and developing new technologies and rapidly prototyping new systems to facilitate deep space travel and possible Mars-landings for a number of years. To date its focus areas have included solar electric propulsion and advanced ion thrusters, new habitation systems, nuclear fission, laser communications back to Earth, deep-space atomic clocks for more precise navigation, and much more.

The final stage is the biggest: the Earth Independent stage. This is when decades of research and everything learned from the first two stages will be applied to actually getting to the Mars vicinity --- maybe initially one of the Martian moons -- and eventually the Martian surface.

Although it's a long way off, building a sustainable, healthy, working colony is certainly Nasa's long-term goal, the report concludes, "In the next few decades, Nasa will take steps toward establishing a sustainable human presence beyond Earth, not just to visit but to stay." Such ambitions were given a boost last month when the space agency confirmed the presence of flowing water on the Martian surface.

The dark, narrow, 100 metre-long streaks running downhill on Mars are thought to have been formed by salty water that currently flows on the surface of the planet NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

"This strategy charts a course toward horizon goals, while delivering near-term benefits, and defining a resilient architecture that can accommodate budgetary changes, political priorities, new scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs, and evolving partnerships," said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for human exploration and operations at Nasa, said.


As well as the three main stages, Nasa also identified three of the biggest challenges that will be integral to the mission moving forward. Transportation, working in space and staying healthy and putting systems in place to make sure this kind of work and exploration is actually sustainable.

According to the report, both global cooperation and some commercial backing will both be important elements in ensuring the plans actually come to fruition. This is why Nasa hopes its plan "builds on our existing international partnerships while embracing new ones."

Of course there's a chance Nasa might not be the first to arrive. Dutch company Mars One still hopes to turn the whole living on Mars thing into a reality TV show, with the help of Big Brother creator Endemol, by 2025.