Mars Exploration

In this module we will learn:

1. Mars – The Red Planet 4. Mars Exploration Missions
2. Importance of Mars Exploration 5. Future on Mars
3. Challenges of going to Mars

1. Mars – The Red Planet

Mars, the fourth planet in our solar system, is often called the 'Red
Planet' because it appears in the sky as an orange-red star. The red
color is because the surface of Mars contains lots of iron oxide.
It is the last terrestrial planet in the Solar System. Mars has two
natural satellites (moons) named
1. Phobos and 2. Deimos

Why does the surface of Mars contain iron oxide?

The rocks and soil on the surface of Mars contain a dust that is primarily made up of iron
(in addition to small amounts of other elements, including chlorine). Wind eroded these
surface rocks and soil, and ancient volcanos blew out the iron, spreading it all over the
planet. When this happened, the iron within the dust reacted with oxygen, producing a red
rust color. So, Mars is red because it has a layer of rusty dust covering its entire surface.

Mars also has some of the largest dust storms in the galaxy, in which the red dust gets
whipped into the light atmosphere surrounding the planet. This is why Mars also appears to
have a red sky.

2. Why do we need to explore Mars?

1. We would end up like dinosaurs and become extinct
if some big asteroid hits Earth, an ice age begins, or
some solar flare burns the Earth.
2. What we build for Mars also helps us here on Earth
such as the high-speed laser communication, CCTV,
pacemaker for the heart, etc.
3. Humans by nature are wanderers and curious
beings.
Advanced relay satellite with laser communications
3. Challenges of going to Mars
There are many challenges of going to Mars.
1. We need very good communication between the spacecraft and Earth.
2. While living in space is very hard, landing on Mars is even harder.
3. The radiation in space or on Mars leads to cancer.
4. Going to Mars has negative effects on both the physical body and mental health.
5. Furthermore, launching heavy rockets for Mars missions is very expensive.

Effects on the body Living in Space Landing on Mars

4. Mars Exploration Missions

Many space organizations are trying to overcome these challenges. Let’s have a look at
their missions.

ROSCOMOS
This Russian space agency was the first to put an orbiter around Mars and has a total of 4
successful satellites around Mars.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA from the United States is second to orbit around
Mars after Russia (Soviet Union). NASA has 8 successful
missions of putting satellites around Mars, and 7 successful
landings on Mars. It is also the first space organization to
successfully land on Mars in 1976 (Viking 1) and to fly a
helicopter named Ingenuity on Mars.
Ingenuity Mars Helicopter
European Space Agency (ESA)
In 2016, ESA became the third agency to place a satellite around Mars and this mission
was called the ExoMars mission. This mission was undertaken in collaboration with
Russia; unfortunately, the lander in this mission crashed. But the ExoMars orbiter (The
Trace Gas Orbiter) is successful and is searching for signs of past life on Mars by studying
the atmosphere of Mars. The second ExoMars mission is planned for 2022.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• Mangalyaan or the Mars Orbiter Mission was launched by ISRO on November 5, 2013.
• This made India the first Asian country and fourth in the world to have a satellite around
Mars.
• India is the 1st country in the world to achieve Mars Orbit Insertion in the very 1st attempt.
• The cost of this mission was $74 million, and it is the cheapest Interplanetary Space
Mission in the world.
• The indigenously-built space probe has been in the Martian orbit since September 24,
2014 and has completed 7 years successfully. This has inspired ISRO to launch
Mangalyaan-2 by 2024.

Spacecraft Assembled Mangalyaan

China National Space Administration (CNSA)

The Chinese space agency, CNSA, had a tragedy
when it first launched its Yinhuo-1 mission along
with Russia. But just a few months back, in May
2021, they successfully placed their satellite,
Tianwen-1 around Mars. China also became the
first Asian country to land on Mars and their
Zhurong Rover is functioning well on Mars.

Zhurong Rover

UAE Space Agency

In February 2021, United Arab Emirates became the first
country from the Arab world to place a satellite in Mars orbit,
that too in their very first attempt. Their mission is called the
Hope mission or the Emirates Mars Mission. The satellite is
studying the atmosphere of Mars.
Hope Mission
SpaceX
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is the only commercial company aiming to see
humans on Mars. SpaceX is making revolutions in the field of rocket
science by doing three things:
1. Developed a new way of landing its rockets, which was considered
nearly impossible (‘Catch’ strategy for landing Super Heavy rockets)
2. Found a new way of slowing down a spacecraft in the atmosphere
of Mars
3. Developed new rockets that can take humans to Mars (Starship)

Starship
5. Future on Mars
• Things won’t be easy on Mars as the first set of astronauts will
have to utilize resources from Mars (In-Situ Resource
Utilization) to get water, oxygen, and other essential
elements to survive.
• Methane can be made from abundant carbon dioxide
available in the atmosphere of Mars. This methane can be
used to make rocket fuel, which will help astronauts to launch
back to Earth. Farming on Mars
• To get protection from the Sun's radiation that can cause
cancer, the first set of humans on Mars might have to live in
cave-like places called Lava Tubes.
• Also, to get food, farming would need to be done in
greenhouse rooms with extra lights as sunlight on Mars is just
half times that of Earth.

Living in Lava Tubes

In-Situ Resource Utilization

In many years, Mars would become a much better place to live in.

Would you like to take the challenge and be an astronaut on Mars?

Further Reading
• Why is Mars Red?
• A Brief History of Mars Missions
• Life on Mars
• Curiosity Mars Rover
• SpaceX plans to colonize Mars
• What is Mangalyaan?
• The Story of Mangalyaan