Putting human beings on the Mars has constantly been a subject of science fiction for quite some time now. Notably, in the late 1960s when humanity finally set its foot on the moon, it appeared as though human beings were just a small step away from reaching the Mars. However, with the winning of the Space Race, public interest, as well as, excitement, an arguable most significant factor i.e. funding commenced waning as times passed consequently reaffirming the assertion that we are still not closer to the Mars as it was the situation in the 1960s. As it stands, once the Apollo missions stopped in 1970, it took about another forty years for a similar crew designed spacecraft to travel to the furthest edge of the orbit of the earth. It is on this basis that the following article will present a comparison between the missions of NASA to the moon and, on the other hand, its missions to the Mars.
The curiosity concerning traveling to Mars has resulted in enormous excitement with an appeal towards exploration while attempting to answer the questions regarding the presence of life elsewhere apart from the earth. Several quarters have mentioned that maintaining the exploration of the Mars is fundamental. However, excessive concentration on only the Mars significantly reduces the pace of investigating other elements found within the solar system. Based on the possibility of transferring some people to live on the Mars by 2030, the public has proved that it no longer has ingrained interest in robotic missions because they are in actual sense not compelling. The public dictates that human beings become deeply involved in exploring the surface of another world as this would one day become their home. (Noyes)
In light of the first humans that will live on the surface of Mars, a daunting task regarding food supply exists. In fact, it is because of this that the first people who would set foot on Mars will be considered as farmers and not astronauts. As a result, for a substantive establishment of a meaningful settlement in Mars, then space travelers have a task of learning the ways of growing food on this planet. Experts have mentioned that this is a job which could turn out to be the most important, challenging, expensive and labor intensive. Besides, the survival of humans has a huge dependence on the capacity to generate water and setup automatic greenhouses ahead of schedule for purposes of growing food to be consumed. The exploration also depends on the ability of generating rocket fuel that would be used for the local exploration trips around the planet. Before the accomplishment of the above matters, then the exploration of the Mars would still appear far and unattainable as it has been in the past. (Moskowitz)
Mission to the moon
Entirely valid reasons have been put forward giving a green light both to humanity, as well as, NASA to make a return to the moon for the development of cislunar infrastructure. This is basically that space existing between the moon, as well as, the earth. Such encompass transport systems, power stations; fuel deports and also space habitats. Notably, the moon presents large amounts of scientific information that can be learned from it. In fact, going back to the moon will act as a ground for proving future procedures, as well as, technologies that would essentially be required for working efficiently in deep space. In contrast to the mission to Mars, going to the moon is considered as a favorable alternative.
It is imperative noting that what has been learned from the space travels to the moon will enormously assist in planning for the missions to the Mars consequently making it efficient, as well as, safe as possible. The travel to the moon will assist different stakeholders in learning the different manners of preparing for long term stays in another world far away from the earth. Besides, NASA mission to the moon presents an excellent opportunity for conducting new and important scientific studies. Generally, the previous missions of NASA to the moon has enabled the entity to make rocket, as well as, oxygen propellants from locally available materials while at the same time putting a test to new operations and also operations. (Moore)
In conclusion, it is very unlikely that America will afford a simultaneous human mission to both the Mars and the moon. In particularly to Mars since no human has ever set foot in it, it is imperative to establish a specific plan that would ensure its accomplishment. An assessment of the risks that would be involved, resources which would be required and a definition of important missions that would prepare the space explorers are essential to the whole undertaking of space exploration. (Cofield) Therefore, the above article has sufficiently presented a discussion based on conducting visitation both to the Mars and the moon. Even though the latter's visit has previously been done, traveling to Mars remains unaccomplished.
Works Cited
Cofield, Calla. "The Moon or Mars? NASA Must Pick 1 Goal For Astronauts, Experts Tell Congress". Space.com. N.P., 2016. Web. 31 July 2016.
Moore, Trent. "The Moon Vs. Mars: Why NASA Should Set Its Sights On A Manned Lunar Mission Next". Blastr. N.P., 2016. Web. 31 July 2016.
Moskowitz, Clara. "Farming On Mars: NASA Ponders Food Supply For 2030S Mission." Space.com. N.P., 2013. Web. 31 July 2016.
Noyes, Katherine. "2030: A Manned Mars Odyssey." Tech News World. N.P., 2012. Web. 31 July 2016.
