Hey there! Squeaks and I were using our telescope to take a closer look at the planet Mars. Squeaks had a fun idea about building a Mars Fort! Did you know that scientists and engineers are working hard to send astronauts to Mars one day? They might visit or even live there! But before that can happen, we need to solve some tricky problems.
The first big challenge is figuring out what we need to bring to Mars. Let’s think about it. What would you need if you were going to live there? A place to sleep and snacks are important, but we also need to think about air and water.
Mars’ air is very thin and doesn’t have much oxygen, which we need to breathe. Astronauts would have to bring air with them or find a way to make it on Mars. There’s a robot on Mars right now testing how to make oxygen from the air there, just like plants do on Earth!
As for water, there’s not much on the surface of Mars, and a lot of it is frozen. Scientists are trying to find out which frozen parts are safe to drink. There might even be water deep underground, but we need to find and test it first.
Another challenge is Mars’ low gravity. Everything feels lighter, which sounds fun because you could jump really high! But low gravity can make muscles and bones weaker over time. That’s why astronauts need to exercise to stay strong. Scientists are also looking into special medicines to help keep people healthy on Mars.
Communicating with Earth is another tricky part. Mars is super far away, so it takes time for messages to travel back and forth. Sometimes, it could take over 40 minutes to get a response! Plus, a day on Mars isn’t the same length as a day on Earth, which can make scheduling calls tricky. Thinking of messages like letters might help us handle the wait.
Lots of amazing people are working on these problems so humans can explore Mars and other exciting places. By working together, we might find all the answers we need!
Thanks to our partner, the Museum of Science, for helping us with this episode of SciShow Kids. While we can’t visit Mars just yet, you can learn more about space and science on their YouTube channel. See you next time!
Build Your Own Mars Fort: Gather some materials like cardboard boxes, blankets, and cushions to create a small fort at home. Pretend it’s your Mars base! Think about what you would need inside your fort to live on Mars. Do you have a place to sleep, food, and a way to get air and water? Draw or write a list of things you would need to bring to Mars to make your fort a real home.
Gravity Jump Experiment: Find a safe place to jump, like a soft mat or grassy area. Jump as high as you can and notice how it feels. Now imagine you’re on Mars, where gravity is weaker. How much higher do you think you could jump? Try jumping again and pretend you’re on Mars. Discuss with a friend or family member how astronauts might need to exercise to stay strong on Mars.
Message in a Bottle: Write a short message or draw a picture for a friend or family member. Put it in an envelope or a small bottle. Pretend it takes 40 minutes to travel to Mars. Set a timer for 40 minutes and wait before you give it to them. Talk about how it feels to wait and how astronauts might feel waiting for messages from Earth. How can we make waiting fun or interesting?
