Mars has been the focus of many scientific studies related to the possibilities

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Mars has been the focus of many scientific studies related to the possibilities of human colonization on there. Mars’s surface conditions and presence of water make it one of the most potentially hospitable planets in our solar system after Earth. It also requires lower energy per unit mass to reach from our earth than all the other planets except Venus.

Till now, all the Mars missions carried out were solely intended as exploratory missions, rather than focusing on colonization there. But recent proposals and intents of human colony settlement (terraforming) there, from Bas Lansdorp (the man behind Mars One), Jim McLane, and Elon Musk (his company SpaceX is planning for a manned landing on Mars in 2022).

Although earth and Venus have compelling similarities in their bulk compositions, size and gravity, but Mars is more appropriate for human colonization is their solar day is closer in duration to earth’s, Mar’s surface area is only slightly lower than Earth’s dry land area, it has an axial tilt similar to Earth, and finally Mars has water ice presence that is essential to sustain human life.

Mar’s surface and other physical condition however are not yet fit for plants and animals to survive. The planet has a hostile environment for human habitation, which can affect the health of people planning to reside there. Weakening bones and muscles, osteoporosis and cardiovascular problems, severe sense of isolation, etc are some of the risks associated with human colonization on Mars. Apart from that, separation from earth will result in communication delays of up to 44 minutes, depending on the positions of the two planets on their respective orbits, which can affect the assessment of the crew’s psychological health.

Physiological and physical health impacts are not the sole issues here. The ethics of terraforming is also a debate to be considered in this case. experts like Robert Zubrin and Richard L.S.Taylor have highlighted that it is our moral obligation to make other worlds (like Mars) suitable for Terran life. They also argue that, earth is eventually going to be destroyed with nature taking its course, and thus, humanity has to choose between terraforming and getting extinct. Critics label these arguments as anthropocentrism or the belief considering human being as the most significant entity in universe. Bio-centric critics like Richard Sylan believe in intrinsic value of life and thus they feel it is unethical to transform another planet like mars through human colonization. He argues it would be our moral duty to instead preserve the existing native life forms on mars. Hence, bio-centric approach proposes that the entire biosphere, even if it contains microbial life should not be subjected to human or earth life interference.

Critics like Christopher McKay have argued of a mid way between the biocentrism and anthropocentrism, ethical approaches. He proposes it is desirable and valuable to terraform Mars to nurture human life and allow it to thrive, but without disturbing the alien life. Utilitarian ethics perspective here justifies the study and appreciation of undisturbed alien life.

Advocates of animal welfare belive terraforming Mars will have ethical issues associated to the spreading of earth-based animal life. It is ethically objectionable in their view to bring to knowing put species that has evolved through million years on Earth at harms length through terraforming.

Lastly, terraforming is also viewed as a potential wastage of precious materials, which can be put to better alternate uses by some critics. Hence, they view terrforming as unethical, as it would constrict the human growth potential.

Explanation / Answer

ESSAY ABOUT COLONIZATION OF MARS? 2 pages include ethics

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