by Alexius Tan

Created on: July 24, 2009   Last Updated: July 31, 2009

Should people be allowed to live on Mars?

This question is equivalent to asking, should I be allowed to leave my baby in the microwave?

First instinct should tell you it is too dangerous. No other planet in our Solar System is habitable, at least for humans. I will tell you why Mars is too dangerous for us to live in.

NO OXYGEN

There is no oxygen in the Martian atmosphere; one must be housed in the protection suit. Even if we are able to bring in supplies there, there is no guarantee that it can last us that long. And unforeseen circumstances like leakage and delayed return trip to Earth can cause a deficit in oxygen supply.

You may argue that water electrolysis may be performed on-site to obtain oxygen, but there is another problem about water on Mars.

NO SURFACE WATER

Liquid water cannot exist on the surface of Mars due to the much lower atmospheric pressure, and any bottled source would boil off once exposed to the atmosphere. Ice although available, it would require energy to melt the ice and for we know there is no oxygen on Mars, hence burning is not possible and this would most likely require stored electrical sources brought from Earth. This either speeds up the depletion of the energy source brought over to Mars, or we have to bring too much technology (for example, photovoltaic) there, making the trip not only physically difficult, but also financially impossible.

TEMPERATURE

The Mars is further away from the Sun, meaning it will have an overall much lower temperature than on Earth, which means by no chance you will get to expose to the Martian atmosphere.

DUST STORMS

Mars has the largest dust storms and such storms can go to the scale of engulfing the entire planet. It sounds so dangerous and this would mean you would have nothing to do other than staying in your specially-shielded home.

LIFE ON MARS

What kind of activities can one engage on a planet like this? Considering you have to be in the protection suit 24/7 (or at least when you are out of home), I don't think leisure activities like sports, shopping or catching a movie can be accomplished easily (or even possible).

Living on Mars would require imports from Earth. But Mars' outdoors is so dangerous, where can one earn enough money on live on it?

OTHER DANGERS

Imagine when one opens a can of oxygen or canned water from Earth for refill and accidentally pierced a hole in the protection suit. The suit deflates with a bang and the one in the suit is exposed to the Martian atmosphere,

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