Table of ContentsChallengesAdvantages and Disadvantages: Human or Robotic ExplorationConclusionSpace exploration is a process driven by human curiosity and the desire for knowledge to navigate the unknown. Apart from this, the exploration of the unknown allows us to generate a better understanding of the universe and the solar system at a level that sanctions technological advances aimed at improving society (NASA, 2013). The history of space exploration began in the mid-20th century, but the first successful manned mission to space was launched by Russia in 1961. Even more famously, the first safe landing on the Moon was made in 1969 by the crew of Apollo 11 ("The History of Space Exploration - Online Star Registry", 2009). Since then, many other attempts have been made to explore neighboring celestial bodies, the closest being Mars apart from the Moon. Most missions involved spacecraft observing and collecting data on Mars, searching for evidence of the presence of water, conducting analyzes of the soil and atmosphere, all with the aim of learning more about the planet red (NASA, 2019). After decades of robotic exploration, discussions are underway about future manned missions to Mars to further explore the planet and its satellites with the possibility of terraforming the planet (NASA, 2019). However, like all space missions, there are difficulties and obstacles that must be considered to ensure that the process is successful and above all safe for humans. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Challenges Since the goal is to send humans to Mars, the process requires more considerations to ensure its success and safety for astronauts. Like all space missions, human life presents dangers due to the hostile nature of the environment which is not adapted to the basic needs and conditions to which we are accustomed on Earth. In terms of physical characteristics, Mars is about half the diameter of Mars. of Earth, with much lighter gravity and a thinner atmosphere. The low gravity experienced during travel to and from Mars can also have a significant impact on the human body (Wei-Haas, 2016). Our body, accustomed to Earth's gravity, constantly works our muscles, bones and heart to keep us functioning. In space, decreasing gravity forces the body to work less to function. Compared to the effort required on Earth, reduced energy consumption can lead to muscle deterioration and loss of bone density in astronauts (Wei-Haas, 2016). Bones, which contain the highest amount of calcium in the body (“High Calcium Levels or Hypercalcemia,” 2018), provide the blood with a source of calcium. When bone mass decreases and blood calcium levels increase, the kidneys must filter excess ions more often, which can lead to a greater incidence of kidney stones (Wei-Haas, 2016). Increasing the level of physical activity and allowing bones and muscles to function in the same way as on Earth can ensure that these effects will have less impact, particularly when astronauts return to Earth. In terms of atmospheric differences, Mars' atmosphere is approximately 100 times thinner than Earth's (Klotz, 2017) with an atmospheric pressure of approximately 600 Pa (Pascals) compared to the Earth average of 101,300 Pa, what can make the blood boil in our body(Coffey, 2008), even at room temperature. Another difference lies in the composition of the atmospheres. On Earth, our atmosphere is approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and traces of other gases, water, and carbon dioxide. In comparison, Mars has an atmosphere that is 95% carbon dioxide. Since oxygen is essential for survival, the lack of free oxygen in the Martian atmosphere makes breathing impossible. These factors alone inhibit unaided human survival when exposed to the environment (Tate, 2015). Other challenges include freezing temperatures, toxic dust, and radiation on the planet's surface (Klotz, 2017). Ambient temperatures on the planet are around -55°C, with the hottest being 20°C in the equatorial regions and a frigid -150°C at the extremes. Like Earth, Mars experiences seasonal changes, meaning temperatures can vary throughout the year, which is another challenge that requires proper equipment to keep astronauts properly warm (Purcell, 2016). Despite this, temperatures on Mars are not as regulated as on Earth. This is because Earth's temperatures are stabilized by the geochemical carbon cycle, which primarily requires carbon dioxide and water, carrying greenhouse gases into the atmosphere to radiate heat ( Kasting and Walker, nd). Mars' atmosphere, although composed primarily of carbon dioxide, does not contain enough of it because the atmosphere is so thin (AmbretteOrrisey, 2018). There is also no shortage of a reliable source of liquid water to use in the cycle (Johnson, n.d.). In addition to the likelihood of temperature fluctuations due to Mars' thin atmosphere, strong winds are often likely to develop, leading to a dense atmosphere. dust storms which can impact the amount of solar energy available (Purcell, 2016). Mars being further from the Sun than Earth, its day length is already shorter (Tate, 2015). These complications currently pose one of the greatest obstacles to human exploration on the surface of Mars, as storms can block the Sun and thus lower temperatures further (Purcell, 2016). Additionally, Mars is subject to a higher level of radiation than Earth. . Solar flares, an intense burst of radiation sending electromagnetic charges at high speed, are often emitted by the Sun (NASA, 2015). The Earth is not subject to the same level of radiation from the bombardment of charged particles from the Sun due to the presence of the magnetic field which deflects the particles. Mars, however, does not have a global magnetic field which, in addition to its already thin atmosphere, subjects the planet to a higher level of radiation. The combination of the above reflects the need for technology capable of maintaining human health in a harsh environment over an extended period of time. for a successful mission. Astronauts need suits to protect them from radiation, carry oxygen tanks when exploring the Martian environment, and are stationed near the equator to ensure the warmest ambient temperatures, limiting the need to adapt the equipment to keep them in more difficult conditions. Another consideration would be a reliable source of food. Ideally, being able to grow food on Mars would allow astronauts to carry less for their current and future missions. Mars essentially has most of the elements needed for photosynthesis; an abundance of sunlight and carbon dioxide, suitable heat near the equator, and water that can be extracted. However, unlike the groundterrestrial which is rich in nutrients, the soil of Mars contains high levels of perchlorates toxic to organic matter (Purcell, 2016). It is therefore necessary to conduct more research on Mars, in order to create better solutions to this problem, other than sending terrestrial soil to the planet. The difficult nature of survival on Mars due to the above conditions constitutes the main obstacle to the success of a manned mission to Mars. from now. Apart from that, there are many plans for how NASA could carry out a crewed mission to Mars. One of them suggests landing astronauts on one of the moons of Mars, Phobos or Deimos, before landing on the red planet. The process would require launches from NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), capable of sending crew, cargo and spacecraft like the Orion capsule to Phobos for the first half of the mission. The crew would then be transferred to Mars and remain in a lander containing suitable shelter and an ascent vehicle to enable the return journey to Earth. This procedure is believed to be able to reduce risks and costs, making them more manageable, but it is not an official NASA plan (Wall, 2015). Advantages and disadvantages: Human or robotic exploration Curiosity about the unknown is a key characteristic of man that has sparked the desire to explore space, despite it being a hostile environment completely unsuitable for survival of life. As a result, multiple technological advances have been made in the attempt to explore space, beginning with unmanned vehicles and eventually progressing to crewed missions. Countless spacecraft have been launched and landed on celestial bodies since the mid-20th century, but the Moon landings were the furthest humans have traveled. Taking this into account, the main advantage of robotic exploration is cost-effectiveness. Robotic exploration has been a key element in paving the way for human exploration. Because technology sent into space is more “disposable” than human life, there are fewer considerations to make to ensure the health and safety of the astronaut. Subsequently, many costs can be saved by creating and maintaining equipment for human survival in space. As noted above, many factors and considerations regarding the environment outside of Earth require modification or technological assistance for humans to survive, all of which incur additional costs and are a difficult engineering challenge to overcome . More importantly, shuttle missions are considerably more expensive to launch than robotic explorations. Current estimates for shuttle launches average about $1.3 billion over their lifetime, with additional costs per launch conducted (Phys.org, 2005). Although this amount covers development costs and modifications for safety reasons, the overall costs are extremely high and uneconomical. Compared to the wider range of data that unmanned missions can provide, crewed missions are limited in this aspect, as humans require more to function. Basic needs for survival; Food, water, and air are all in short supply in space, requiring sources to be delivered to astronauts or taken with them on the journey. It is also necessary to repair and maintain the equipment that supports the astronauts' temporary habitat (Phys.org, 2005). When it comes to missions to Mars, there have been many successes like the Mars Pathfinder.