Scientists have generally agreed that the possibility of building a base on Mars could be completed in the near future so researchers can establish better and more in-depth research on the planet. While scientists are currently looking for ways to make living on the planet self-sustainable, Martian geologist Aine O'Brien says work is currently underway to make that a reality that could be finished in a few decades. But Ms O'Brien added the time frame of implementing it may be longer if life is discovered on Mars to avoid contamination.<\/p>\n
Speaking to The Nine on BBC, Ms O'Brien was asked how likely and how soon the human race could colonise Mars after several successful missions to the planet.<\/p>\n
She replied: \"I kind of hope it isn't that soon because we haven't done that much robotically yet.<\/p>\n
\"There's so much to see and we need to check if there's life there before we contaminate it with our own life.<\/p>\n
\"So, hopefully, maybe 20-30 years, I think is the kind of expectation and hope and by then we should have done a whole lot of science to work out how we can do it without perhaps polluting anything on Mars that is already living there.\"<\/p>\n
Host Martin Geissler pushed the scientist and wanted her to clarify whether the feat could be completed so soon.<\/p>\n
Ms O'Brien responded: \"Perhaps not living as a colony, I'm not sure if that's the word I use either.<\/p>\n
\"But perhaps a kind of research station and maybe 20-30 years time.<\/p>\n
\"The big thing that's just been announced this week in the space world are plans for NASA to return to the Moon by 2024.<\/p>\n
\"Which is a huge step because if we can build a more of a base, they're going to call it the lunar gateway, which is basically a sort of hub to make it easier to get out into deep space like Mars for example.<\/p>\n
Scientists are also looking at whether rock-eating bacteria which is already used on Earth could help with extracting and mining precious rock on Mars.<\/p>\n
The microbes eat certain types of rock leaving precious ore behind and are often used in mining programmes on Earth.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the NASA Ingenuity helicopter carried out the first-ever flight on another planet while it was on Mars.<\/p>\n
The contraption rose three metres in the air, hovered and then safely returned to the ground.<\/p>\n
The flight lasted 40 seconds as data was sent back to scientists on Earth which will help expand travel on Mars.<\/p>\n
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Mars to get first human colony in 'maybe 20, 30 years' as NASA flies helicopter on planet - Daily Express<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Scientists have generally agreed that the possibility of building a base on Mars could be completed in the near future so researchers can establish better and more in-depth research on the planet. While scientists are currently looking for ways to make living on the planet self-sustainable, Martian geologist Aine O'Brien says work is currently underway to make that a reality that could be finished in a few decades. But Ms O'Brien added the time frame of implementing it may be longer if life is discovered on Mars to avoid contamination. Continue reading