What Route to Take Imagine the new rockets are ready to go. A crew is picked. It seems pretty sure they can survive the trip. Now, it’s finally time to head to Mars. Experts disagree on what route to take, though. Some say we should set up a base on Earth’s
moon. Astronauts could train there. Tey could learn how to live and work on another world. Tey could practice landing and taking off. Others say that’s a bad idea. Tey say the
moon isn’t like Mars. Mars has an atmosphere, for example. Te moon doesn’t. Tis layer of gases around a planet can affect landings and takeoffs. So the moon may not be a good place to practice.
Straight to Mars? Some experts say astronauts should go straight to Mars. It would be a little like past trips to the moon. Tese astronauts would stay for a visit. Ten they’d return to Earth. A private space company has a very different
idea. Its scientists think the trip to Mars should be one-way. Te first people who go to Mars would set up a permanent settlement and stay there. Bit by bit, more people would join them. Tis company is already taking applications
for the first Mars settlers. More than 200,000 people have signed up. It seems like a lot of people want to move to Mars.
WORDWISE
atmosphere: the layer of gases that surround a planet
engineer: a person who uses scientific knowledge and rules for practical purposes
orbit: to move in a circular path around an object
technology: the use of science in solving problems
Surviving on Mars No matter how long they stay, the Mars astronauts will need water, air, and food. Tey can bring some from Earth. Once on Mars, they’ll need more. Engineers have some solutions for this
problem, too. For instance, astronauts may be able to remove water hidden in Mars’ soil. Tey could drink this water. Tey also could remove oxygen from the water to make air to breathe. Tey could grow food in greenhouses. Tey
could also bring 3-D printers to print meals. Tis may sound far-out. Yet the technology already exists. Te printer mixes powders with water and oil. Ten it sprays the mixture layer by layer on a surface. So far, it can print out cookies, chocolate, and a few other foods.
Home Away From Home For now, a mission to Mars may seem like science fiction. Yet scientists are hard at work every day to make it happen. Two rovers are exploring Mars. Tree spacecraſt orbit it. Tey all send information back to Earth daily. Every bit of new data tells scientists more
about Mars. It shows them what problems Mars astronauts might face. It helps them find solutions. So some day, the people of Earth may call the Red Planet home.
16 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXTREME EXPLORER
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