NASA has laid out adetailed planfor how it intends to send humans to Mars in the next few decades . The 36 - pageboy report card explains the technology and infrastructure that will be needed to make mission to Mars a reality .
Interestingly , the design indicate that the ultimate goal is to be " globe sovereign , " meaning they want hoi polloi to stay there , not just go and come back , although they do n’t go so far as to apply the Son " colonize " in their rhetoric . " Like the Apollo Program , we embark on this journeying for all humanness , " NASA says in the written report , which you canread online . " Unlike Apollo , we will be run to appease . "
The journey to Mars involves three major steps , according to NASA . The first is " Earth Reliant " exploration , which is focused on International Space Station ( ISS ) research . This involves examination technologies such as 3D - printing machine and spirit support systems that will be useful for eventual Mars missions . On the ISS at the moment , for example , spaceman Scott Kelly and cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko are completing the first"year in space"on the station , a full of life stone’s throw towards prospicient - haul Mars missions .
Next , the representation will move into a " Proving Ground . " This will affect examine various component part beyond low - world scope . The way is already building the huge Space Launch System ( SLS ) skyrocket , which will be capable of get mankind to Mars , and the Orion space vehicle , which the astronauts will found in and return to Earth in . Both of these will be flown for the first fourth dimension together by the end of the decade , and in the 2020s , NASA plans tocapture an asteroidand have astronauts go and gossip it in cislunar space ( between Earth and the Moon ) .
NASA is adamant we can get to Mars in the next few decade . NASA / Pat Rawlings .
The final step is that " Earth Independent " one . Although there ’s no rigid time shell , NASA plans to expend its old experience to take humans first into Martian orbit in the 2030s , possibly its moon Phobos and Deimos , before ultimately set down on the open . " With human on Mars , we will be capable to advance science and technology in ways only dreamed of with current robotic explorers , " says the report .
The report also underline the grandness of the Mars deputation being a " collaborative effort " with other country . ESA is already involved with the Orion ballistic capsule , and other land – perhaps including Russia , Japan , India , and perchance even China – are have a bun in the oven to join in the final endeavor .
Whether the noble-minded goal will be achieved depends on continuous funding course to the means . And at the moment , it ’s not looking too bad . NASA currently has about $ 4 billion ( £ 2.6 billion ) per twelvemonth to developed its manned exploration efforts , and when theISS is retiredsome time in the next 10 yr ( it has to be , as the frontier settlement is getting fair old ) , that will release up another $ 4 billion for exploration . Of course , more money would n’t go amiss , but it could be enough , although somethink otherwise .
With the edifice of the SLS and Orion , and significant research into long - terminus human space travel , habitats , spacesuits , and so on , NASA is pushing purposefully forward with their Mars effort . Some may be skeptical that it will all come to fruition , but the office is lento but for sure urinate headway .
Our wager ? See you on Mars in the 2040s .
