Do humans have a right to move to Mars? A NASA rover has extracted oxygen from the air on Mars. It could make moving to the red planet much easier. But should we be going there at all?
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Oxygen on Mars paves the way for human trips
Do humans have a right to move to Mars? A NASA rover has extracted oxygen from the air on Mars. It could make moving to the red planet much easier. But should we be going there at all?
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What's happening?
The year is 2046. AstronautsSomeone who travels on a rocket into space. walk across the dusty ground towards the underground city. The door opens and they step inside.
"Phew", one says. "Fresh air at last!"
Find out more
The air on Mars is 96% carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas. . OxygenAn element that is vital for life on Earth. It makes up 21% of our atmosphere. only makes up 0.13% of the mixture of gases.
If humans moved there, every person would need an oxygen tank to stay alive.
But NASA could have a solution. MoxieShort for Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilisation Experiment. is a small robot about the size of a toaster. It made the trip to Mars with Perseverance in February.
Moxie can make oxygen using the air on Mars.
It is the first machine to produce oxygen on another planet.
It could make human life on Mars easier. Buildings could have normal air. Nobody would need a tank to breathe.
But do we have a right to move there?
Some say
Yes! We would not be in anybody's way. Humans have spent time and effort getting there. There is nothing stopping us building cities and sending people to live there too!
Others think
Not really. We don't know if other life exists. What if we built a city and it harmed alien life we didn't know about? Cities, factories and cars are ruining our home planet. We have no right to go and do it again somewhere else.
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Keywords
Astronauts - Someone who travels on a rocket into space.
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas.
Oxygen - An element that is vital for life on Earth. It makes up 21% of our atmosphere.
Moxie - Short for Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilisation Experiment.
Oxygen on Mars paves the way for human trips
Glossary
Astronauts - Someone who travels on a rocket into space.
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas formed during the combustion of any material containing carbon and is a significant greenhouse gas.
Oxygen - An element that is vital for life on Earth. It makes up 21% of our atmosphere.
Moxie - Short for Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilisation Experiment.