Elon Musk has pledged to settle Mars. A prize-winning book offers a reality check

Kelly Weinersmith, a biologist and adjunct professor at Rice University, and Zach Weinersmith, a cartoonist, explore the challenges of space colonization in their new book A City on Mars. Initially optimistic about humanity’s future on the Red Planet, their research turned them into skeptics.

“Leaving a 2-degree Celsius warmer Earth for Mars would be like leaving a messy room to live in a toxic waste dump,” they write.

Major Hurdles for Martian Settlement

The Weinersmiths argue that settling Mars soon would be dangerous, pointing to insufficient research on critical issues like reproduction and survival in harsh Martian conditions. The planet’s thin atmosphere, weak gravity, toxic soil, and extreme radiation create challenges for long-term habitation.

Astronauts experience rapid bone loss in microgravity, and Mars’ 38% gravity could exacerbate health issues, especially for childbirth. Moreover, Mars lacks Earth’s magnetic field, leaving settlers vulnerable to high radiation levels. “We’d need generations of research to ensure survival,” Kelly says.

Space Race 2.0?

Governance in space is another concern. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty provides vague guidelines, leaving room for disputes over resources and territory. Tensions between nations like the U.S. and China could escalate if space exploration intensifies.

Feeding the Future

Developing sustainable agriculture in space is another open question. Growing food in closed-loop systems that recycle air, water, and nutrients is still far from practical.

What’s Realistic?

Rather than rushing to settle Mars, the authors advocate for moon research stations to study long-term survival and reproduction in space. “We may see exploration of Mars in our lifetime, but a self-sustaining colony is far off,” Kelly concludes.

Their book underscores the need for caution, calling for thorough research before embarking on such an ambitious venture..