Mars 火星探索

For thousands of years, people have gazed into the night sky and wondered about the planet Mars. Yet some people question whether it is worthwhile to study Mars at all, Mars exploration is crucial and must continue, because it will be beneficial to science advancement, Mars is quite similar to Earth and humanity need colonies.

The most significant benefit of Mars exploration is to promote technological progress. In trying to reach out to the next frontier, humans always have to reach out to the limits of our technology. For instance,people would never invent such precise timekeeping and navigational technology if they were not eager to cross huge expanses of ocean to reach frontiers in Asia, Africa and the New World.In other words, the technologies we develop for Mars will affect life on Earth.Mars explorationis also a challenge that would encourage millions of young people to go into science and engineering.Although space missions are extremely expensive, costing billions of dollars every year, ifyoung scientists develop their minds and learn their science, society would benefit tremendously from that.

The second reason for Mars exploration is that the conditions between Mars and Earth are similar. About 4 billion years ago, when the two planets were formed, they may have been almost identical. Geologists believe there was a time when Mars had a warmer and wetter climate, vast quantities of surface water, and an atmosphere that was much like Earth's. Today, the planet's surface is dry and lifeless, its atmosphere is unfit for human life. It is imperative to understand the evolutions of other planets, particularly planets like Earth so that we can wisely take care of our home.

Another reason to explore the Mars is that human need to colonize space. There has been enough damage done to the earth. If humanity wants to survive, the only option is to colonize another planet. According to a 2012 UN Program for the Environment report, the Earth can sustain a population of eight-to-16 billion at most. Considering that there have already surpassed seven billion, before long people might have to look at new worlds on which to establish themselves. Furthermore, history shows that surviving as a species on the earth is tough and by no means guaranteed. The dinosaurs, for example, roamed the planet for 165 million years, but the only trace of them today are their fossilized remains, and that is why humans need to be a multi-planet species