Introduction
Mars_Livable
                                                             image by BBC




 The latest space exploration craze is sending humans to Mars. From government agencies, such as NASA, to private corporations, like SpaceX, adventurers and scientists have set a goal to land astronauts on our second closest astronomical neighbor.

What is the purpose of such an endeavor? Is the benefit worth the enormous cost and risk to human life? These are tough questions to answer. Four basic arguments have been made to justify a need to reach Mars and develop a colony there:

     1.) Survival of humanity as a species
     2.) Exploring the potential of life on Mars
     3.) Using technology designed to reach Mars to contribute to the quality of life on Earth
     4.) Economic growth and resource procurement

We will explore these arguments, and the physical challenges associated with developing the technology and equipment to colonize the Red Planet.




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