presentation for students about life on mars. great for highschool students. many slides, good description. overall, a great interesting presentation about futural science that many students can use.

1. Colonization of Mars
Could humans live on Mars?

2. Overview:
Can Mars be colonized?
What would be the challenges and benefits
of man living on Mars?
Of all the planets Mars is by far the most
habitable for humans, but there are still
significant barriers to overcome before Mars
can be colonized.

3. First we will compare the
similarities and differences
between Earth and Mars.

4. Similarities to Earth
1. Rotation/Tilt: Mars has a similar length of day (24
hours 39 minutes) and a tilt of 25.19 (Earth: 23.44)
which results in Mars having similar seasons as Earth.
Since Mars is located farther from the sun than Earth; a
year on Mars lasts for 687 days.
2. Surface: Mars has a rocky surface which covers about
the same percentage of size on Earth. (Earth is about
twice the size of Mars in size and density). On the
surface there are also many volcanoes although they are
extinct and no longer erupting.
3. Water: Mars has polar ice caps similar to Earth which
contain frozen water. Scientists also think water once
covered the continent similar to Earth and if the polar
ice caps melted it would do the same again.

5. Differences from Earth
1. Life: Although plants and organisms on Earth have been able
to survive in the harshest conditions on Earth, they probably
could not survive on Mars.
2. Gravity: The gravity on Mars is 38% of that on Earth. Currently
there is research being done on the long term effects of low
gravity on the human body.
3. Climate/Weather: Although Mars is technically in the
“habitable zone” it is much colder than Earth. The mean surface
temperature is between -124.6 degrees Fahrenheit and 23
Fahrenheit.
4. Solar: Since Mars is farther from the Sun only about half of the
solar energy that reaches Earth will make it to Mars.
5. Pressure: The atmosphere pressure on Mars is significantly
lower than the Armstrong limit (levels of pressure humans can
survive).

6. Terraforming of Mars:
Although it seems like science fiction the
idea of being able to terraform Mars into a
more habitable planet is being discussed.
The process of terraforming would involve
using man-made processes to transform
Mar’s atmosphere into something more
habitable for humans to survive in.

7. Traveling to Mars
How would we get there and how long would it take?
Let’s take a look….

8. Distance:
Venus is the only planet that would be easier to reach for humans
than Mars. Mars and Earth are about 150 million miles apart but it
depends on where they are on their orbit. With current space flight
technology it would take a space shuttle 9 months to reach Mars.
Radiation: On the voyage to Mars the astronauts would be subjected
to constant cosmic radiation and solar wind which cause DNA
damage that increases a person’s chances of having cancer.
Landing on Mars: Since Mars has only about 40% of the gravity that
Earth has landing a heavy shuttle on the surface of Mars would be
difficult.
Landing Locations: Likely sites are caves near the Arsia Mons volcano,
Valles Marineris which is a large canyon, and lava tubes found on the
sides of Arsia Mons.
Venus

9. Equipment Needed
What Equipment will be needed to colonize Mars? The most necessary
equipment needed is that which will keep humans alive while living there.
This equipment will include production equipment which will be able to
produce food, water, energy, and oxygen. They will also need equipment for
general habitation and protection from the harsh elements of Mars.

10. Equipment Needed
1. Living Quarters – This would require either pre-assembly or human
construction on arrival at Mars. The main function would be security from the
atmosphere, pressure, and lack of oxygen.
2. Resource extraction equipment - This equipment is essential for human
survival. The primary extraction equipment would be for water and oxygen.
3. Energy Production – This would most likely entail some sort of solar panels
to produce energy for the living station.
4. Food Production – For not only storage but for preparing and making food.
For colonization to take place food would have to be produced on Mars.
5. Fuel Production – Energy will be needed for the return shuttle and to use
the different types of transportation on Mars.
6. Communication Equipment – This equipment will be needed for
communication between those on Mars and for return communication back
to earth. Communication with Mars has a delay between 3-22 minutes.

11. Purpose – Possible benefits of colonizing Mars
What are some of the possible scientific and economic benefits of Mars?
Research: The goal of putting a man on Mars or colonizing Mars has
helped fuel scientific research and amazing engineering
accomplishments.

12. Robotic Systems:
In the process of researching Mars many innovating
robotic systems have been created. These robots have
helped take pictures, collect soil samples, and map the
entire planet among many other feats.
These robots include the three Mars Exploration Rovers
(Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity) and the Mars
Surveyor Lander. There are current developments on the
Mars Colonial Transporter which would bring supplies to
Mars prior to a manned mission planned in 2030.
Mining:
As parts of the Earth were colonized there success
sometimes depended on the raw materials that were
available to support the colony.
This could be same for Mars. Materials could be
mined from Mars to support the colony or to send
back to Earth. Its close location to the asteroid belt
could also allow mining of iron nickel meteorites
which are abundantly found throughout the asteroid
belt.
Human Life:
The dinosaurs discovered the planet Earth is vulnerable to being struck by a large asteroid
and possibly eliminating all life.
If humans are able to colonize Mars it would provide an outlet or option to extend human
life even if Earth no longer existed or was uninhabitable.

13. Mining of Mars Mining in the Asteroid Belt

14. Mars Curiosity Mars Spirit
Mars Opportunity