Could You Live on Mars?
Pack for the Red Planet and find out what humans would need to survive far from Earth.
Read along
Mars looks like an exciting new home, but living there would be a huge challenge. The air is mostly carbon dioxide and is far too thin for people to breathe. Mars is also cold, dry, and exposed to more dangerous radiation than Earth. Future explorers would need sealed habitats filled with oxygen and protected by thick walls or Martian soil. They would recycle water, grow some food indoors, and make careful use of every supply. A trip from Earth would take months, so help would never be close by. Scientists are testing the tools that could make a Mars home possible, but for now Earth is the only planet where people can live outdoors naturally.
Inside the story
Scene by scene
Pause, look closer, and discover the science behind each part of the adventure.
Scene 0101
Welcome to the Red Planet
“Mars has mountains, valleys, dust storms, and a sky unlike anywhere humans have ever lived.”
Iron minerals in Martian soil react with oxygen and create rust, giving the planet its familiar reddish color.
Scene 0202
Bring your own atmosphere
“Outside the habitat, there is no breathable air, so every explorer needs a pressurized suit.”
Mars's atmosphere is about 100 times thinner than Earth's and contains mostly carbon dioxide, with very little oxygen.
Scene 0303
A home built for survival
“A Mars base would recycle water and air, grow food under lights, and shield its crew from radiation.”
A closed-loop habitat tries to reuse limited resources. Covering it with Martian soil could also reduce radiation exposure.
Keep wondering