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. The Starship has just landed after its seven-month journey from Earth. Astronauts walk across the dusty, red ground to the entrance of the underground city. The door opens and they step inside.
"Phew", one says as she takes off her helmet. "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.
So far, Moxie has produced about five grams of oxygen from the air on Mars. This is enough for one person to breathe for 10 minutes.
This is the first time a machine has producedCreated or made. oxygen on another planet.
It could make human life on Mars easier. Buildings could have normal air. Nobody would need a tank to breathe.
Trudy Kortes, a NASA scientist, says: "It will help future missions live off the landTraditionally this means to live on whatever food you can get by hunting, finding food or growing it. On Mars, this includes using the natural world to find oxygen to breathe.".
But do we have a right to move there?
Some say
Yes! There is no proof that any aliens are living on Mars. We would not be in anybody's way. Humans have spent time and effort travelling there. There is nothing stopping us building cities and sending people to live there too! We should celebrate our achievements and make the most of space travel.
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? And we don't want to make mistakes. 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
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.
Produced - Created or made.
Live off the land - Traditionally this means to live on whatever food you can get by hunting, finding food or growing it. On Mars, this includes using the natural world to find oxygen to breathe.
Oxygen on Mars paves the way for human trips
Glossary
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.
Produced - Created or made.
Live off the land - Traditionally this means to live on whatever food you can get by hunting, finding food or growing it. On Mars, this includes using the natural world to find oxygen to breathe.