Do you think it is really important to send Humans to Mars?

Question

I can understand to do something on the moon but why risk life to explore Mars.
Better use the money to build much smarter robots to explore mars and not to risk the life of a human.
At least for the next 100 years.

Answer 1

Mhhh...I did read all the answers and see that many are living in a dream world here.
Mars isn't really a pleasant place to be for a human.
The Journey is long and the landing will be very dangerous.
Once on the planet there is dangerous radiation from the sun.
Also there are a lot of storms and it isn't very hot there.
It is quite cold.
Mercury and Venus are hot not Mars.
You can't just terraform Mars!
That will take quite a very long time if possible.
One said: You want to stuck here forever?
What is that for an answer?
Another answer is that the sun will expand and earth will be fried.
Yes, it will happen but not within the next 100 years.
That will take many 100000s of years.
To colonize the Moon would be a good target until the end of this century but Mars should be much better explored before you send Humans there.
Also the moon would be a very good base to do deep space explorations.

Answer 2

I think even though it's important to scientist doesn't mean they should waste all the money and someone life in a exploration on mars where we can find nothing?! You are actually right, what do humans do that robots don't? They land there and then explore it for a few hours, and take some rocks. That is it! Nothing more. I mean it makes no sense! However, I don't want it for next 100 years because even if I lose my life I want to be a astronaut! =D

Answer 3

Yes.

It is part of the human spirit to grow and explore; to always want to know what is around the next bend or over the next hill.

Further, the earth's natural resources (no matter how carefully preserved and tended) can only sustain so many inhabitants. Eventually there will be too many people on earth and the only choices we will have are forced euthanasia, manditory sterilizations, expansion to other worlds, war over natural resources or massive starvation (on a scale that makes present third world problems look like a long forgotten dream).

As for me, I'd rather not have to tell someone that they are no longer productive to the world economy and therefore must die so others will have enough to eat. I'm also not fond of the idea of massive wars over natural resources (conspiracy theorists may now chime in over the supposed blood for oil nonsense).

Sterilization has some possibilities, but I'm sure you can see the unending string of legal battles and claims that human rights have been violated on that road.

No, I think the only real acceptable option is expansion to colonies. Today's space program is tomorrow's lifeline. It is a shame that some folks are too short sighted to see that. They might want to wait until they are surrounded by starving skeletons holding a gun to thier heads and stealing the bread from thier tables before they begin to think about looking for more room for the human species to inhabit. But then it will be too late.

So to all the folks who think we would be better off spending dollard or pounds or euros or whatever at home here on earth, I say you should feel free to gut funding for silly things like the national endowment for the arts or studies on the affect of flatulence on fire retardant fabric, but leave the space program alone. It's our best hope for the future.

Answer 4

It is necessary for humans to explore Mars for many reasons. Firslty, the artificial intillegence at our disposal at the moment is not at the level we need in order to answer very important question we have regarding our neighbour. Human exploration will be necessary. Why is it necessary? Earth will not last for ever. The planet will start dying, mainly because of our irresponsible nature towards the wellbeing of our planet. In the future, the sun will also begin to die and will end life on earth, due to the extreme heat we will be exposed to. We will need to find other homes and perhaps even before that time comes (threats from asteroids, comets, etc). By exploring Mars, humans can create an Earth like planet using our technology to change the atmosphere and thus the entire climate and composition of the planet, making it suitable to sustain earth-life. It is not only important for future survival but it has scientific relevance to, as we need to branch out into the universe and enhance our understanding of who we are and where we come from. Not only does it have to do with our sense of belonging but also with our future advances in science. Just as people set sail and populated different regions of the world centuries ago, we will need to start doing the same in our galaxy (and then the greater universe) in order to attain a higher level of existence and general better lifestyle.

Answer 5

Not really. I mean, even if we all packed up our bags and went to mars, re-establish ourselves and make a better community, when the sun eventually explodes, it'll take mars with it. However, I do think there are some benefits that haven't yet been thought of. For instance, if global warming is increasing, it might be useful to mine on mars and bring back general dirt to bulk up the countries and islands that are going to sink below sea level when the polar ice caps melt. It's a far fetched idea, and it would require for humans to go to mars, but it could work. It might provide an adequate reason to go there.

Answer 6

The ultimate goal for Mars is to terraform it. This will be done by causing a severe, man made greenhouse effect and introducing hoards of bacteria. This won't happen for a hundred years or so but that's the plan. Its also the reason why if they find life on Mars, you won't find out about it, because there would be an ethical problem in terraform it then.

With the global warming and population problems on Earth at the moment, in the future it will be important. Not so much now.

Answer 7

Yes but only for financial gain. Actually living there as a normal planet is quite impossible, see my topic on terraforming mars about seven questions ago. It is unlikely that the planet can be given a stable breathable atmosphere due to its dead core and lack of electromagnetic feild. But then again biomes, as would have to be built on the moon, are an option.

Mars will be EXTREMELY valuable as a tourist destination and as a industrial centre, just look at the film 'total recall' actually preety accurate I think to what life will be like. And yes the earth will one day die and run out of resources so we have to look else where.

Lastly it is in some/most peoples basic instinct to explore so you can't stop them.

Answer 8

There are some humans I would dearly love to send to Mars, and some that may as well live there for all the know about life on Earth

Answer 9

Well, if they can send at least one man to the moon, why can't they send the rest of them to Mars? I think they'll be very happy there, and we can get on with some peace on Earth!

Answer 10

At the rate that we're depleting our Earth of its minerals and other resources and polluting it's atmosphere, I guess we have not much of a choice unless governments decide to educate the public and find alternative sources as well as recycle, reduce and reuse. They should think less of earning money for the short term (e.g. oil drilling) and think of the future of their predecesers...

Hmmm.... I guess it is easier to go to to Mars after all as money and personal gain seems to be in many of our politicians' minds. After all, why not exploit another planet, we have 7 others after that, haven't we???!!!