The human race has fantasized about living off Earth for hundreds of years. These dreams have been reflected in fiction, giving rise to series and movies, such as ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, ‘The Mandalorian’ or ‘The Martian’, the latter focused on life on Mars. It is precisely on the red planet where we want to put the magnifying glass to answer the question of whether we can live on Mars without protection .
Mars is the fourth planet in the Solar System with respect to the Sun. It is 227.9 million km away and its days are very similar to Earth’s, they only last 37 minutes longer. Theoretically, together with Venus, it is the closest planet to us, although the distance depends on the moment in which it orbits. Regardless, a human can reach it because in 2021 it took Atlas V 202 days to reach it. No human has stepped on its surface yet, but soon they will.
A dangerous planet for humans
As we listed at the beginning, Mars has characteristics similar to Earth, but, at the moment, it lacks what is necessary for human life . Perhaps the least important detail is the low gravity, although we would lose bone mass rapidly until our bones could barely bear weight. However, there are other much more dangerous concerns, such as a greater amount of CO2, which would poison our lungs, and worse: a different radiation that would kill us.
The short answer to the question is that no, humans are not trained to withstand such an environment, we would die instantly. This may seem conclusive, but it is not definitive. There is hope that one day we will live just like on Earth. Among the infinity of options, these two are the most realistic:
Genetic modification
For geneticist Christopher E. Mason, the solution lies in modifying human DNA. Thus we would mold our genetic code to adapt it to life on the red planet. Through genetic engineering, future humans could colonize the planet, a celestial body where the average temperature is 60 degrees below zero.
Structures that provide us with a correct atmosphere
The second most consistent option is to create force fields or superstructures that transform the area where they are applied. At the moment it is difficult to create an atmosphere for the entire planet, but one possibility lies in creating areas protected by these fields, such as cities. In this way we would live “as on Earth” in cities, although to get around we would have to take a vehicle that protects us.
Other habitable planets
If we manage to overcome the hurdle of moving millions of light years, there are other potentially habitable planets outside the Solar System . We have not yet confirmed life in any of them, but due to their characteristics, such as a resistant core or the right distance to the star, so that we do not melt from the heat.
Representation of Kepler-11
One of the most likely planets is TRAPPIST 1-E, which contains an iron core similar in size to Earth. On the other hand, for years the scientific community studied the possibilities offered by Proxima Centauri B , which takes its name from the star it orbits, Proxima Centauri. The latter is “only” 4 light years away, but its violet radiation would annihilate which known life form. Outside of these two, other possible names are Kepler-11, K2-72, and KOI 4878-01. Perhaps one day we will walk around Mars or one of these planets like someone walking in the park.