The key facts

  • Three challenges: Earth–Mars communication, transport of cargo and samples, human survival on Mars
  • Radio interferometry was tested on the Tianwen-1 mission; Tianwen-3 is planned for launch around 2028, with soil samples returned by 2031
  • Zhang considers Mars an achievable goal beyond the Earth–Moon system

Three Key Challenges of Mars Exploration

Zhang, a researcher at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the article “Why Are We Going to Mars?” for Global Times named three main tasks that must be solved for permanent human residence on the Red Planet. This was reported by Naked Science, citing the publication.

Communication and Navigation

The first task is ensuring information exchange between Earth and Mars, which is important for communicating with spacecraft and accurately determining their trajectories. According to Zhang, the radio interferometric system developed under the leadership of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory makes it possible to calculate the trajectories of spacecraft flying to Mars with high precision and to place them into orbit. The technology was tested in the Tianwen-1 mission.

Delivery of Cargo and Samples

The second task is establishing the transport of cargo and samples between the planets. Zhang noted that humanity has learned to send spacecraft to Mars, but there is not yet a technology, proven in practice, for returning Martian materials to Earth. China plans to carry out the Tianwen-3 mission in this direction: its launch is scheduled for approximately 2028, with the delivery of Martian soil samples to Earth around 2031.

Human Survival on Mars

The third task is sustaining human life on Mars. According to the scientist, the planet has very low temperatures, high radiation levels, weak gravity and low atmospheric pressure, and the possibilities of using water and oxygen are limited. Zhang emphasized that it is necessary to determine how to use Mars's local resources for human habitation and scientific research.

Why Mars in Particular

Despite the difficulties, Zhang considers Mars a goal achievable for humanity beyond the Earth–Moon system. According to his explanation, Mercury is too close to the Sun, conditions on Venus are extremely unfavorable for exploration, and other celestial bodies are located considerably farther away. Mars has a thin atmosphere and water ice, and the length of its day and the change of seasons are similar to Earth's. In the researcher's opinion, these features could make Mars an important intermediate stage on the way to an interplanetary civilization.