Hope the colonization of Mars is based on the premise that we can terraform Mars, making it suitable for human habitation, with normal atmosphere and the temperature. But one recent study challenged this idea and concluded that terraforming is impossible with the use of existing technologies.
And if you pause the colonization of Mars, it’s time to reconsider the relationship that we have with our closest cosmic neighbor: the Moon. The first successful stranded on the surface of the natural satellite of Earth was Russian spacecraft “Luna-9” in 1966. This mission was first revealed to the people of barren moonscape.
Since the beginning of the space age to the moon has sent more than 60 successful missions, including eight manned. The most famous was mission of “Apollo 11” July 1969, which brought to the surface of the moon first man.
Why Mars and not the Moon?
These pioneers of space has expanded our understanding of the Earth and the Universe. The mission “Apollo 15” in 1971, for example, restored the so-called “stone creations” — one of the oldest rock samples, which were extracted from the crater on the moon. Analysis of other samples of the surface confirmed the “giant impact hypothesis”, which is now a generally accepted view of the formation of the moon in a massive impact on the Earth 4.5 billion years ago. Since then, however, our view shifted from the moon to Mars. In the 1990s, years after a series of failures of the Mars Pathfinder delivered the first Rover on Mars. It was the first successful landing on Mars since Viking sent there in the late 1970s. the Pictures showed the probe, sparked the imagination of people, sparked interest in new missions to the Red planet.
Instead of bemoaning the near future a manned mission to Mars today, let’s look at five facts that speak in favor of the moon.
Transshipment point in space
To overcome the pull of gravity and reach the other bodies in space, we need to move at a certain speed. A journey to Mars from the Earth’s surface requires the minimum speed of 13.1 kilometers per second. It requires a lot of missiles, tons of fuel and complex orbital maneuvers. Because of the weaker gravitational field of the moon, the same trip to the lunar surface would require a speed of only 2.9 kilometres per second. Roughly one third of what is needed to reach the International space station from Earth.
The moon also has defined mineral resources, including precious metals and the ingredients for rocket fuel, which are formed in the process of splitting water ice (and its presence on the surface of the moon also confirmed) to hydrogen fuel and oxidant.
Mineral troilite, iron-sulphur compound, is quite rare on Earth, is also present in the lunar crust. Sera from troilite can be extracted and combined with the lunar soil for the production of building material stronger than Portland cement. This means that a lunar settlement could be constructed on the moon using the material at hand.
The creation of a lunar base, which will be sent to missions in deep space, will greatly increase the ratio of payload and fuel, allowing us to explore the Solar system cheaper and easier.
Energy of the future
Nuclear fusion, the process that gives life to the stars, can provide us with energy for many years to come. The synthesis reactors of the future will use helium-3, a lighter version of helium, which is charged balloons. This isotope is rare on Earth but found in abundance on the moon, where it can be obtained that is attracting interest from a number of businesses and governments are willing to send him to the Ground.
The initial surge of commercial interest could provide incentives and Finance necessary for the first raids on useful deposits of the moon, and then to establish a permanent human presence on the moon.
The age-old rocks
The moon is an inactive world. No major geological changes occurred three billion years. On the Ground details of the surface change under the action of rain, tides, wind, or plant growth. Lunar landscape proudly shows his violent past, showing impact craters and saved at the history of the Solar system, ready for exploration.
Observation Of The Universe
The atmospheric density on the moon is very low, ten trillion times less than earth’s. The lack of atmosphere provides ideal conditions for the location of astronomical observatories across the entire width of the electromagnetic spectrum. The radio Observatory on the far side of the moon will be fully protected from radio noise of Earth.
Atmosphere with low density also makes possible the construction of ground x-ray or gamma-ray telescopes, unlike the Earth, which blocks short wavelength light from space. Such Observatory would maintain and update the residents of the moon is much easier than orbital telescope.
People in space
One of the major obstacles for the mission to Mars is in understanding the impact of long-term floating in space on the human body. If there is something unexpected, restocking or recovery will take more than two years. Studying the effects of space on people first on the moon and simultaneously developing technology, we could be more practical to approach further study of Mars. If something happens on the Lunar base, the Earth is only three days away.
Another serious problem associated with a trip to Mars, this is the unintended contamination of the pristine Martian environment terrestrial organisms. The moon is almost certainly infertile, therefore such a problem with it.
While the first scientific research on the moon was done in the late 1960-ies, over the next half century we are no closer to it one iota. Despite the growing technological ability today far exceed those that were available during the “Apollo”. Before we are ready for another giant leap into space, perhaps we should make some small steps next to the house.
Mars or the Moon? Tell us in our chat in Telegram.
Five reasons to forget about Mars and to return to the moon
Ilya Hel