NASA and other private space companies like Mars One and SapceX are going to send the first to Mars, the Red Planet.
NASA recently announced the human’s journey to Mars would not be possible without the agency’s contribution.
Charles Bolden, the administrator of NASA, explained during the session with the U.S. House Committee on Science on Thursday, that the space agency is expected to send the first humans on Mars in 2030, and any other private company will not be able to do the same thing before them.
Bolden mentioned, “No commercial company without the support of NASA and government is going to get to Mars.”
NASA has send a rover which is still exploring the Red Planet’s surface and a few spacecrafts which are orbiting Mars, and this knowledge and experience will be of major help in their task of sending humans to the planet.
The gained data of Mars showed that the Red Planet may have been home to more forms of life in the past.
Bolden said before sending a manned mission it is crucial to understand the most detailed aspects of the Red Planet. He also added that NASA researchers have to find out if what happened to Mars could also happen to Earth.
Mars is believed to dispose of large water bodies, even oceans, just like Earth, but the planet lost all the liquid water as the planet slowed the generation of its magnetic field.
Mars One aims at sending humans on Mars and also to set the basis for a human colony on the Red Planet The company announced that they will make possible for humans to go to Mars in 2020s and then start up a human colony by 2027.
A space trip from Earth to Mars would take around 500 days. NASA has sent its astronauts to International Space Station for long periods, such as 12 months, in order to better understand the suitability of sending humans to Mars.
NASA, which is a government agency, announced it has the technology,information, finance, and support from the United States. Private companies would need the help of the agency for sending humans to Mars, the NASA scientists firmly believe.
For an entire month, starting April 29, NASA will organize a challenge for design ideas to keep astronauts safe during deep space missions. More than $30,000 will be given to design projects selected by NASA.
Image Source: Space
