NASA wants Your ideas For A Mars Colony

Mars has been the next frontier for humans on account that astronauts first bounced across the moon in 1969, and whereas we work on rockets to be able to get us to our crimson neighbor, scientists are considering hard about methods to build a sustainable colony on Mars. What would we want to carry to continue to exist? that’s the question NASA is asking the public through a new competition. The challenge asks for written submissions detailing what astronaut-explorers will need to colonize a brand new planet—and the space agency is offering a total of $15,000 in prize cash, to be break up between three winners.

The competition’s recommended is extensive, however so are the challenges going through planet colonization: NASA lists “safe haven, food, water, breathable air, communique, exercise, social interactions and medicine” as possible topics areas for members to tackle. And considering there’s handiest so much area and weight on the rockets with a purpose to propel people to Mars, NASA is pushing for revolutionary options—no longer simply options to be had nowadays, however solutions from years at some point when those Mars rockets might be prepared.

“We’re no longer going to get humans to Mars except as a minimum the mid-2030s, and the world is going to vary with the aid of then,” NASA chief scientist Ellen Stofan advised quick company in a latest interview. “So how do we guarantee that the trail we’re selecting has sufficient flexibility, in order that as technology develops we will adapt what we’re doing? That method, if somebody figures out learn how to do something a lot better, that you would be able to adapt with out ranging from square one or making prices go means up.”

although a manned Mars mission is decades away, NASA is making vital growth towards that intention now. Mars rovers and orbiting probes are feeding information back every day, and NASA’s Orion astronaut pill is inching nearer to space readiness, Stofan says. And while NASA battles governmental finances cuts, it has been turning to private firms and global companions to fill the gaps. but different international locations would not have much of a push to collaborate on a mission to Mars, says Stofan:

“With the mission to Mars, the whole world desires to get involved,” Stofan advised quick company. “So we actually have 13 different area businesses from around the world working on the global exploration street map. That helps us as a result of we don’t have limitless instruments. And it’s a merit to all the other international locations that wish to take part.”

just as turning to the global community makes the experience to Mars an international mission, NASA turning to the general public for Mars colony ideas makes the venture a collective effort.

“every time I provide a talk,” Stofan told fast firm, “I ask the target audience—especially if it’s youngsters—what number of need to go to Mars. as a minimum 1/2 lift their fingers. I don’t assume there’s going to be any scarcity of volunteers.”