Space & Astronomy

NASA planning Mars colony within 25 years

By T.K. Randall
October 9, 2015

Image: Humans on Mars
Credit: Pat Rawlings / (PD) NASA In a newly released report entitled 'Journey to Mars', NASA has reiterated its intentions to not only send humans to Mars by the 2030s but to set up an ambitious self-sustaining colony there.

The first step will be to continue developing and testing the technologies needed to do this while learning as much as possible from experiments aboard the space station. Of particular importance will be mitigating the health risks posed by prolonged exposure to both radiation and micro-gravity.

Once these problems have been solved the next step will be to carry out test flights and further experiments in cislunar space - the area of space around the moon.

When the first astronauts eventually do arrive on the surface of Mars they will live inside special habitation modules built using a combination of modular architecture and 3-D printing.The ultimate goal will be to see humans living on Mars without any reliance on supplies from Earth.

"NASA aims to extend human presence deeper into the solar system and to the surface of Mars," the report states. "In doing so, our human and robotic explorers will expand knowledge and discover the potential for life beyond Earth."

"As pioneers, we seek to blaze the trail for others, establishing a presence that leads to economic progress and broad societal benefit."

"We pioneer space to discover life, identify resources, foster economic growth, inspire and educate, protect ourselves from space-based threats, and leave a better future for the next generation."

Source: Telegraph

Tags: Mars