401 million kilometers, 9-month journey. When will humans land on Mars?

A manned mission to Mars is one of the greatest challenges in modern astronautics. According to experts, it will take at least 30-50 years before humans set foot on the Red Planet. Huge costs and risks related to crew safety stand in the way, which means that the date of landing on Mars is still distant. Despite impressive technological advances, financing remains a key constraint that could delay the implementation of this ambitious plan.

To reach Mars, a one-way journey can take up to half a year, which generates enormous logistical difficulties. Limited financial resources have already forced NASA to abandon some missions, such as the planned return of samples from Mars to Earth. A manned mission, which requires advanced technologies and gigantic investments, would be much more expensive. According to Dr. Anna Łosiak, a planetary geologist from the Polish Academy of Sciences, technology is not the biggest problem – the main lack is an appropriate budget.

“If we pumped in as much money now as in the Apollo program, we might be able to achieve it within 30-50 years,” adds Dr. Łosiak. The main challenge, however, is the enormous cost of building systems necessary to survive on Mars, such as habitats and rockets.

Technological breakthroughs and Mars exploration

Mars has long been an object of interest for scientists. For over half a century, the planet has been studied by probes and rovers, which provide valuable information about its surface. The first success was the arrival of the Mariner 4 probe, which in 1965 sent the first photos of Mars to Earth. Today, advanced orbiters operate in orbit around the planet, and two rovers roam the surface: Curiosity and Perseverance.

Thanks to modern satellite imaging technologies, scientists can study the structures of the Martian surface in detail with a resolution of up to 30 cm per pixel. We can also analyze the distribution of minerals and small amounts of water on the surface of the Red Planet, which is crucial for future manned missions.

European Rover Challenge and Mars simulations

At the beginning of September, the 10th edition of the European Rover Challenge – an international competition for Mars rovers – took place. Especially for this event, a simulation of the surface of Mars was created in Krakow, modeled on the largest canyon in the Solar System, Valles Marineris. As Dr. Anna Łosiak, the main designer of the track, explains, this competition is an excellent testing ground for technologies that can be used in future missions to Mars.

Despite advanced technology, Dr. Łosiak emphasizes that the main challenge remains the costs and tests of life support systems. It was the lack of sufficient financial resources that forced NASA to cancel the planned mission that was to bring samples from Mars to Earth.

Difficulties in manned missions to Mars

A manned mission to Mars brings many challenges, the most important of which is the huge distance separating Earth from the Red Planet – from 56 to 401 million kilometers. Reaching Mars in a state-of-the-art spacecraft would take 6 to 9 months, posing significant challenges for astronauts. For example, even a simple failure, such as a rock getting stuck in a rover’s wheel, can have serious consequences.

An additional problem is preparing the human body for the extreme conditions on Mars. The lack of gravity causes astronauts to lose muscle mass and bone density, requiring intense exercise in simulated conditions. Moreover, each crew member must be in excellent health, because even a simple operation, such as tooth extraction, may be impossible to perform in Martian conditions.

Astronaut safety is a priority

Experts emphasize that the main obstacle to implementing a manned mission to Mars is ensuring the safety of astronauts. Surviving in Martian conditions requires excellent physical and mental health and appropriate equipment that will be able to support life on Mars for a long time. This mission, although fascinating, involves high risk for the crew, whose health and lives may be exposed to serious dangers.