Do we need a song for space? Rise to Mars! will spread the dream of life on the red planet, says its enthusiastic composer. But is an anthem, however rousing, really necessary?
And now for a new national anthem – for Mars
Do we need a song for space? Rise to Mars! will spread the dream of life on the red planet, says its enthusiastic composer. But is an anthem, however rousing, really necessary?
Imagine waking up on Mars in 10 years' time.
It is cold outside - maybe -150C - and as one of the planet's first inhabitants, you have a hard day ahead of you: either mining for minerals, tending vegetables in the colony's greenhouses or maintaining the space shuttle that brought you from Earth.
You probably want something to remind you why you made the 35-million-mile journey - and Rise to Mars! playing on the tannoy might just be it.
The anthem, commissioned by the Mars Society that promotes the settlement of the red planet, has a rousing tune and inspiring lyrics. "Rise to Mars, men and women," it begins. "Dare to dream! Dare to strive! Build a home for our children! Make this desert come alive!"
"When people sing it and hear it," says its composer, Oscar Castellino. "I want them to dream about this future that we have: of our children, and their children, living across the solar systemThe Sun and the objects whose movement it controls., and a great step that our generation can take."
The president of the Mars Society, Dr Robert Zubrin, believes that every successful movement needs an anthem.
"It's truly a 'Marseillaise' for Mars," he says. "I would not at all be surprised if it, some day, became the national anthem of a Free Martian Republic."
The idea of an official national anthem began in Europe in the late 18th Century, though sometimes songs were adopted that had been written much earlier: God Save the King - now God Save the Queen - was first performed in 1619. The longest belongs to Greece, with a 158-verse poem on the suffering of the Greek people.
When Europeans set up colonies, anthems became important to these countries' identities too. Only one country in modern times has not had a national anthem - AfghanistanA mountainous Asian country, slightly larger than France, whose neighbours include Pakistan, Iran and China., when it was ruled by the Taliban in the 1990s and all music was banned.
Building a sense of national identity and community will be key to achieving harmony in any Mars settlement, says American astrosociologist Jim Pass. For the first Martians, trips back to Earth will take up to six months. In the beginning, Mars will be a lonely place.
"You can't just throw a group of people in an isolated environment without any kind of structure," warns Pass, who is the CEOThe Chief Executive Officer is the highest ranking person in a company. They are responsible for making decisions about the company's future. of the Astrosociology Research Institute. "Otherwise, you're going to have chaos and dangerous behaviour."
But just how soon Rise to Mars! might be sung on the planet itself is unclear.
In May, NasaThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme. announced plans to send two astronauts to Mars for 30 days by the late 2030s or early 2040s. Elon MuskA South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.'s company SpaceX is more optimistic - it plans for astronauts on the red planet by 2029. Yet as scientists grapple with the difficulties of sending people to an inhospitable and distant place, these dates keep being pushed back.
But Castellino hopes to see a performance in which people on Mars harmonise with people on Earth: "Because the Martian anthem is not about a planet - it's about our species taking a great leap forward."
<h5 class=" eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Do we need a song for space?</strong></h5>
Yes: To make a go of living on Mars, colonists will need a sense that the planet truly is their home - and Rise to Mars! will help them feel that. And it is catchy enough to capture the public imagination.
No: National identity does not rely on having an anthem. Today, many are criticised for being outdated, tuneless and even racist. The whole concept of national anthems should be scrapped.
Or... There is no point in a settlement on Mars unless it benefits Earth, so colonists should continue to think of this planet as their home. A Martian national anthem would undermine that.
Solar System - The Sun and the objects whose movement it controls.
Afghanistan - A mountainous Asian country, slightly larger than France, whose neighbours include Pakistan, Iran and China.
CEO - The Chief Executive Officer is the highest ranking person in a company. They are responsible for making decisions about the company's future.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.
And now for a new national anthem – for Mars

Glossary
Solar System - The Sun and the objects whose movement it controls.
Afghanistan - A mountainous Asian country, slightly larger than France, whose neighbours include Pakistan, Iran and China.
CEO - The Chief Executive Officer is the highest ranking person in a company. They are responsible for making decisions about the company's future.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.