Recently, NASA emphasized the need to send humans to Mars, citing the advantages human capabilities offer over robots.
The claim that “we can achieve in hours what robots take years to do” has sparked interest in the possibilities for manned missions to the Red Planet.
Although rovers and robotics have long been the primary means of exploring the surface of Mars, the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) now claims that the time is right for human missions.
MEPAG experts claim that humans will excel at processing data, being faster than the slower rovers and therefore accelerating the exploration of Mars.
Bruce Jakosky, the research director, inquired Space.com that planning for manned Mars missions is actively underway. He acknowledged a lack of adequate discussion about the scientific objectives of these missions and criticized NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions.
Jakosky emphasized the crucial collaboration between science and engineering for the success of exploration efforts.
Of particular importance, Jakoski highlighted the role of human involvement in collecting data and samples from the surface of Mars. He emphasized that on-site astronauts can perform these tasks faster and more efficiently than robots.
Jakosky called for the development of specialized tools and technologies to support astronauts in conducting impactful scientific research on Mars.
Furthermore, Jakosky expressed confidence that any Mars mission carries the potential for important scientific discoveries, underscoring the urgency of sending humans to this enigmatic planet.
However, he underlined the need for multiple missions to comprehensively explore the various facets of Mars, recognizing that a single mission cannot reveal the whole truth about this mysterious planet.
Experts are calling for a new phase of Mars exploration, with humans seen as the key researchers able to unravel the mysteries of this geologically complex planet more effectively than ever before.
