Elon Musk, among others, has a dream of sending people to Mars within a few years. The Astronauts would spend a while on the planet and return. More flights would put more equipment on the planet to await a group staying longer. Great dream… But I don’t think it is possible in this half century if ever.

            Why is it an impossible dream? Mars has very little oxygen in its almost zero atmosphere so all the air the people will breathe will need to be manufactured on site. Suits will need to be worn when outside the enclosure because of the lack of air and its temperature extremes.

Gravity is lighter on Mars because it is smaller than Earth. That isn’t real bad because the people will be so weak after being in the weightless space for two years. The people who were on Skylab or the International Space Station for a year are carried out of their capsule. Their condition is because the station is far enough outside Earth’s gravity that their muscles weaken. Imagine how weak they will be after the two year trip to Mars plus the two year trip back. Their muscles would be putty. Even their bones will have lost strength and minerals.

            I think the movie “The Martian” was pretty good and pointed out some of the problems and ways to solve them. The lack of gravity wasn’t considered since it would have opened up to many problems and questions. No, I can’t see how we can go to Mars even if the Astronauts “Recycle” the food and water – UGH!

            Elon, the Government can save tens of billions scrapping it.