by Wes Kelly

Created on: January 29, 2010   Last Updated: February 01, 2010

To a Desolate Shore

While flight to Mars and possible settlement present dangers for individual men and women, the prospect of all humankind simply remaining on Earth presents a danger as well, a danger of eventual physical and spiritual extinction.  Mars might appear now as a dangerous and inhospitable shore, but would it not also be dangerous for humanity not to consider expansion into the solar system?  Should human colonies succeed on Mars, then life would exist on two worlds instead of one illuminating all the facets that such an achievement implies.

Space exploration compares in broad terms with the era of world exploration initiated 500 years ago, true.  Perhaps one thing in common was that earlier explorers encountered hostile shores and hidden dangers often with little immediate payoff.  But thanks to them many of us now have our homes.  While distances are enormously greater and environments can be much more harsh in space, technologies have improved immensely as well and will continue to do so.  Even though voyages in 21st century or later spacecraft will be more hazardous than scheduled airline flights, they will not compare to the risks that confronted crews signed on with Columbus or Magellan headed into complete unknown with little knowledge other than currents, winds and sails.

If Mars were the Earth’s moon instead of what we have, we would probably have people living there already.  Unlike the moon's entire lack in carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen, Mars has these elements in abundance supporting organic chemistry from which fuel and food can be derived.  It has water, meteorology in a thin air and soils fertile enough for plant growth.  It has a 24 and a half hour day, days with temperatures that can reach beyond freezing levels and a surface gravity 38% of Earth's. If life can be sustained within domes, caverns, huts and green houses initially, can human potential on Mars be easily foretold?

Of course, while life for humans on Mars has been imagined for a century or more, the technical and economic obstacles to achieving such are even more readily apparent.  Commission studies to recent presidents have provided detailed plans for such voyages and surface expeditions.  Vice President Agnew’s commission reported to Nixon on such a plan after the first lunar landing; of the infrastructure recommended for Mars trips, America bought off only on the

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