Surviving Mars: How humans are preparing to live beyond earth

The article "Surviving Mars: How humans are preparing to live beyond earth" outlines the immense challenges humanity faces in attempting long-duration space travel to Mars, focusing on the physiological, psychological, and environmental hurdles. Unlike Earth, where gravity, atmosphere, and ecosystems support life, Mars missions require humans to endure prolonged exposure to microgravity, radiation, and isolation without immediate rescue or support. While the International Space Station has provided valuable insights into living in space, Mars is vastly farther away—about 225 million kilometers—making every medical, logistical, and psychological challenge more complex. Current technology means a Mars mission could last up to three years, with no possibility of emergency evacuation, requiring astronauts to be highly self-reliant, particularly in medical emergencies where telemedicine and AI-assisted tools may be critical. Psychological resilience is highlighted as a key factor for mission success, given the extreme isolation, confinement, and communication delays that astronauts will face. Studies simulating Mars missions on Earth have shown significant mental