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Ashley Hancock

Ms. Gardner

English 10H-Period 4

9 May 2017

Jumpstart Future:

Mars: A Habitable Living Place for Humans?

Mark Watney claimed to have colonized Mars. Neil Armstrong landed on the moon. John

Glenn performed three orbits around the Earth in 1962. Humanity has what it takes to make

brilliant scientific discoveries, and we have proven this with Newtons discovery of gravity,

Darwins discovery of evolution, Mendeleev's creation of the Periodic Table of Elements, Bohrs

discovery of Quantum Physics, and so on through the ages. We have been and should continue to

be struck with motivation to expand and further our knowledge of our surroundings. These

brilliant scientists made way for modern life by making new discoveries and reaching beyond the

status quo. We have journeyed to and left footprints on the moon, and we have sent robots to

Mars. As we can see by merely sending robots to Mars we are limiting the potential, the

potential of space programs like NASA, and astronauts like Jack Fischer and Thomas Pesquet.

Why havent we yet traveled to Mars? Here is one problem: the United States government and

supporting citizens are debating whether or not to continue to provide resources for a future

manned mission to Mars. Earlier advancements have brought us closer and closer to finding the

ultimate way to travel to the Red Planet. So, why break down the bridge that is already half built,

right? Wrong. Although many citizens around the world believe that a mission to Mars is

irrelevant to the continued existence of our species, government funds towards Mars Mission
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associations CAN benefit the near future of mankind, CAN prove to guarantee safe space travel,

and CAN preserve all discoveries and knowledge of our great humanity.

Many would argue that bigger issues--challenges with terrorism, drug abuse, and

immigration--should be getting more attention, and that the funds of international governments

should be spent accordingly. Lonnie Shekhtman, journalist for the Christian Science

Monitor-notes what the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology asserted publicly,

Without a concrete plan and enough money, the space programs nebulous goal to send humans

to Mars may not be feasible, (Shekhtman). Many feel that government funds should not be

spent on something they believe is insignificant to the relative future of mankind and the Earth.

Admittedly there is some truth to that, but when it is time to think about the future beyond our

lives-- a future where the Earth is overpopulated and reaching its last stages of life, we would be

hopeful knowing that we had another planet that could be depended upon for feasible life. With

just the financial support of the government, NASA would be able to accomplish much more

with further space exploration and life on Earth would be expanded to life on Mars.

Some may counter that space travel is too dangerous for human beings, that there is wide

range of opportunity for danger during 18 months of space travel, in a space-vehicle about the

size of a Suburban. USA Today states in an article On Oct. 28, an unmanned rocket, owned by

Orbital Sciences Corp. and headed to the International Space Station, failed on takeoff. Three

days later, SpaceShipTwo, a rocket flown by Virgin Galactic, broke up over the Mojave Desert,

killing its pilot, (USA Today). These odd events happening during space missions drive fear

and worry into the citizens of the world causing this outstanding reluctance to send anyone into

space, thus affecting the governments of countries around the world and their willingness to fund
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such projects. Story Hinckley a journalist for the Christian Science Monitor, writes in his article,

Do You Have What It Takes to Colonize Mars? NASA Might Need You, The future citizens

of Mars will spend two years of training at the Johnson Spaceflight Center in Houston, Texas

where they will receive engineering, science, and language classes as well as physical

training,(Hinckley). NASA proves that astronauts are not blindly thrown into space without any

training. At least two years of their lives are spent preparing and educating themselves on what

comes with the mysteries of space travel. It is also a known fact that space vehicles undergo

rigorous safety inspections over multiple weeks. Life is about risk. If risk means putting your

life on the line, with a slim chance of failure, versus having a chance of redefining the past,

present, and future of our Earth...Risk It! Lyn D. Wigbels, an assistant professor at the Center for

Aerospace Policy Research at George Mason University, presumes in her article Dont

Discount Human Spaceflight, Human spaceflight is more costly, but its inspirational benefits

and productivity are unsurpassed,(Wigbels). There is belief from professionals that we can

accomplish such a dream. Now, everyone needs to realize the brilliance that follows mystery of

the abyss beyond Earth. Be the reason we find habitable living space on Mars; be the one to

overcome the driving fear and mystery of space travel. Nineteen sixty-nine was the year for

Americans as they eagerly watched the take off of Neil Armstrongs ship - it was their time. It

was their time to live in glory, for they as a country had accomplished something unimaginable.

And according to the Mars One Association, The moment the first astronauts land on Mars will

be our moment to remember, - our time. Science and space do not create a nightmarish abyss,

regardless of what Lisa Suhay says in her article Elon Musk Wants to Send Humans to Mars in

2024. Can He Do It?, where she states It's the stuff of science fiction dreams - and
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nightmares,(Suhay). Together we can create that beautiful dream, together we can turn that

fantasy of space, into a fantastic reality.

The European settlement of North America was difficult. So was overcoming the Black

Plague. The world accomplished those things because they had a goal. They had something to

work and strive for. Now put that determination into reaching this goal of finding a habitable

living space on another planet halfway through our Earths lifetime. We must strive to continue

the human race on an entirely different planet. May we someday, look up from our new home at

the great night sky, knowing that one of those small reflections of life is Earth, where human life

originated. Cathaleen Chen opens our eyes with new information from NASA saying that we are

closer than ever to sending a manned mission to the Red Planet, (Chen). Our world is changing

ever so rapidly. Imagine every scientific discovery we have made from the beginning of time lost

with the end of the world. The reemergence of the geocentric theory, the recurring belief of

witchcraft, the reinvention of fire and the wheel, not to mention the very existence and evolution

of our species! But, there is a way for us to preserve that knowledge, as well as our human

essence, and ensure that all those discoveries will precede future advances on a new planet. We

would discover ways to adapt to life on a new planet. We could salvage our medicines and

treatments for deadly diseases. Ultimately, we could continue life after Earth becomes

uninhabitable.

We as humans are meant to challenge the forces of nature. We are meant to take action.

As the Earth becomes less and less able to sustain life, humans will be the ones revolutionizing

space travel, and creating life in new places. With the help of governments and the people of the

world, we could make drastic strides in the field ofg space exploration. Ed Regis, writer for the
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New York Times, is the ultimate opponent of this goal. He asserts, Sometimes technology is a

triumph of wild-eyed enthusiasm over the unpleasant facts of the real world,(Regis). That being

said, such ambition goes beyond the facts that Mr. Regis likes to quote. Rather, this speaks to the

passion for inquisitiveness. Zora Neale Hurston believes that Research is formalized curiosity.

It is poking and prying with a purpose. Curiosity is a void to be filled with new discoveries.

And curiosity never did really kill the cat. Throughout my young childhood, curiosity brought

my mind to new and exciting places. A discovery starts with a question and a passionate soul

with a mind full of curiosity itching for an answer. However, if we bring our curiosity and

intelligence together, together our curiosity and intelligence will bring new life. Together; we

will continue the human-race for many future generations.