In the past 60 years, humankind has been fascinated with space and interstellar travel. In 1969, the United States made history by landing the first man on the moon. Unfortunately, the disasters of Space Shuttles Columbia and Challenger hindered funding for NASA, and in recent years, America has sent astronauts to one and only one location: The International Space Station. If the United States wants to lead in space exploration, we must put Mars exploration on the top of the agenda. There are practical, strategic, and ideological reasons why Mars should be the next space travel destination.
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| Mars Photo from NASA |
First, from the practical perspective, humankind only has one home, the Earth. As Robert Frost said, “Nothing gold can stay,” there will be a day when Earth is no longer habitable to humans. Before that day comes, humankind will need to find a new home, and the best candidate is Mars.
A settlement on the moon is a bad idea. The moon has very little atmosphere, meaning there is little to no protection from meteorites and radiation. The moon settlement will need constant supply trains from Earth to ensure sustainability. If civilization fades out on Earth, it’s impossible for the moon settlers to be independent, given the limited resources available.
On the other hand, Mars settlers could achieve self-reliance – nuclear fission could create power, ice could provide water, greenhouses could supply food, and carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen mixing would provide air. Mars might even become a stepping stone for humans to travel to other possible life-sustaining planets.
Furthermore, Mars exploration has strategic importance. The success of the space program reflects a country’s economic strength, science and engineering advancement, and political leadership. The Mars program might even provide scientific evidence to help us understand the origin of life and the evolution of planets. Mars exploration will not only benefit the United States, it will improve the quality of life of all humankind.
Curiosity and creativity define the human species. When we run out of frontiers to explore, we
look for new ones. We’ve conquered the skies, ruled the seas, dug through the
soil, and tunneled through the ice. We have even traveled to the moon! Our next
great frontier is Mars.
Policy makers need taxpayers’ full support for Mars exploration. The elected officials, no matter are they Republicans or Democrats, should pursue the mantra of Education and Collaboration to win taxpayers’ support.
NASA could take the leading role to educate students and general public about the significance of space exploration. NASA and other relevant government institutions could collaborate with private corporations such as Space X to stimulate innovation and public interest in space exploration. The United States also needs to team up with international space agencies to gain global support.
Social media and entertainment industries could also be great partners to attract public interest and enthusiasm in the Mars Exploration Program. Since Lucasfilm released the first Star Wars movie in 1977, space-loving Star Wars fans have clamored for more space adventure films. I watched all Star Wars episodes and whenever I hear “The Imperial March,” I, too, want to go forth and explore endless galaxies.
A few years ago, my family and I visited JPL during its Open House. The exhibition booths and the opportunity to speak with the incredible scientists simply wowed me. The solar system poster from that event still hangs on my bedroom wall. I look at that poster and dream about possibilities. Curiosity and teamwork produce incredible results.
The dinosaurs became extinct when a meteorite struck
the earth. The mammoths became extinct
after the last ice age ended. Humans are
facing challenges such as global warming, giant meteorites, or unexpected ice
ages. We need to be prepared for those
catastrophes. Unlike dinosaurs and
mammoths, we Americans are risk takers and dreamers. If we are capable of landing on Mars, our
future generations will benefit from our endeavor, and we will leave a lasting
impact on humanity in this universe. May the Mars Force be with you.
Thanks Ms. Cugini for your guidance.
