Mars has been a big deal for a long time. People have told stories about it, been inspired by it, and wondered about it for ages. Now, scientists think it might even have some kind of life we haven't found yet.
Starting in the 1960s, lots of missions have gone to Mars. But now, NASA is thinking about letting private companies join in on the fun. They want businesses to send stuff to Mars or help with communication there. But they're not talking about sending people just yet.
Do folks still want to go to Mars? Definitely. But how should we get there? And should we even try?
But there were also some big flops, like when the Schiaparelli lander crashed in 2016. Despite the ups and downs, these missions have taught us a lot about Mars—like its air, how it moves around, and what it's made of. Some folks even think they've seen weird stuff, like faces and doors, in pictures from Mars. But most scientists say it's just rocks. Still, Mars captures our imaginations like nothing else.
Sending stuff to Mars is super expensive. Space missions to other planets usually cost at least a billion dollars each. So far, the big space agencies have spent around $50 billion on Mars missions. And that's just to send cameras, rovers, and landers. Sending people would cost even more.
But now, more and more, companies are getting in on the action. SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, is a big example. They're all about going to Mars and beyond. They work way differently from NASA—they make changes fast, try stuff out, and learn from mistakes.
SpaceX isn't the only one. Lots of companies in the U.S. are getting into the space game.
NASA's plan now is to go back to the Moon first, with the Artemis program, and then to Mars. They want to use commercial companies to help out instead of doing everything themselves.
Plus, it's giving a big boost to businesses. They're coming up with all kinds of new tech to help with space stuff. And that could have a big impact on our lives here on Earth.
But it's still early days. We have to wait and see if this new way of doing space missions really works. Some people worry that if NASA stops doing things itself, it might lose some of its skills over time.
Elon Musk thinks we should go to Mars, and some folks are really keen on the idea. But not everyone agrees. Some say we should focus on taking care of Earth before we start messing with other planets. Others think space exploration should be more about being sustainable.
Even with all the debate, history shows that if a few people really want to do something, and they've got the money for it, they'll find a way.