Scientist Outlines Three Requirements for a Permanent Human Presence on Mars
Technology
Establishing a permanent human presence on Mars requires solving three challenges: maintaining communication with Earth, transporting cargo between the planets and creating conditions for human survival. These points appear in an article titled “Why Do We Go to Mars?”, published by Naked Science and attributed to Zhang Jiajun, a junior researcher at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The first requirement is reliable communication and precise spacecraft navigation. China uses very-long-baseline interferometry to determine spacecraft positions and trajectories. The technology was tested during the Tianwen-1 mission.
The second challenge is returning Martian samples to Earth. China plans to launch the Tianwen-3 mission around 2028, with the collected material expected to arrive on Earth around 2031.
The third requirement is making human survival possible on the Red Planet. Mars has extremely low temperatures, high radiation levels, weak gravity and low atmospheric pressure. Access to water and oxygen is also limited. Researchers must determine how local resources could support human life and scientific work.
Despite these challenges, Mars remains a promising target for deep-space exploration. The planet has a thin atmosphere and water ice, while its day length and seasonal cycle resemble those of Earth. These features could help support future research and the development of habitats.
The second challenge is returning Martian samples to Earth. China plans to launch the Tianwen-3 mission around 2028, with the collected material expected to arrive on Earth around 2031.
The third requirement is making human survival possible on the Red Planet. Mars has extremely low temperatures, high radiation levels, weak gravity and low atmospheric pressure. Access to water and oxygen is also limited. Researchers must determine how local resources could support human life and scientific work.
Despite these challenges, Mars remains a promising target for deep-space exploration. The planet has a thin atmosphere and water ice, while its day length and seasonal cycle resemble those of Earth. These features could help support future research and the development of habitats.
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