NASA says manned mission to Mars ‘critical to human survival’

Nasa have outlined a three-step plan to land humans on Mars, because a manned mission to the red planet is critical to the survival of the species, according to Nasa chief Charles Bolden.

The first phase of Nasa’s path towards the exploration of Mars begins in low-Earth orbit aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where astronauts can test and improve upon the technologies and communications systems needed for human missions into deep space.

The second step is deep space, where Nasa will send a robotic mission to capture and redirect an asteroid to orbit the moon. Astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft can then explore the asteroid and bring samples back to earth in the 2020s, and the experiences of human spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit will help test new technologies such as Solar Electric Propulsion.

These two stages of preparation will pave the way for humans to explore Mars in the 2030s, relying on the Orion spacecraft and an improved version of Nasa’s Space Launch System.

Bolden set out the plans to highlight the need for increased funding form the White House, making the case that space exploration is not just about curiosity but the survival of the species.