Who Will Get to Mars First - Life on Mars and Space Exploration

The dream humans have to visit other worlds has been alive for thousands of years. Myths and fairy-tales teach us about strange creatures and their far-away lands. With time, science proved that there are countless planets in the vast Cosmos, that life in space, and landing on the Moon are possible. There is no wonder that the next on the list is a mission to Mars.

Becoming a Martian – Checklist for Life on Mars

Humans on Mars – Who Can Make the Dream Come True?

The ISS (International Space Station) proved that humans can live in space. Scientists from all over the world successfully completed projects on the station during the past decades. Their work lay the foundations that would lead us to life on other planets.

Many private companies and governments consider the next steps in the space to be building Moon bases and Mars colonisation. But who will probably be the first people to get to Mars? That’s one of the less bizarre betting topics out there, but the answer actually interests many punters.

While hundreds of scientists, mechanics, and engineers are dedicated to making this happen, we can sit back and bet on who will win the Mars race. Currently, the odds are in favour of Elon Musk and his company, SpaceX. However, Space Force, Boeing, and Blue Origin also have their supporters.

We follow the development and implications of new technologies daily. That is why, we can say that regardless of the wagering now, things can change in a blink. Here are the current odds and who are the known competitors in this race:

You may notice that the leaders in the chart are private companies and the newly created USA Space Force. Countries like Russia, China, and the UAE (United Arab Emirates) may have a late start, but they are quick in catching up. You still have time to choose a player and bet on this unique event at some of the best sports betting sites.

If today we ask who will get to Mars first – SpaceX or NASA, we will see the answer in the odds of the bets. Everything changes, and in the end, the odds may be in favour of the most unexpected competitor. In the paragraphs below, we described what preparations the winner must make to conquer the Red Planet and win one of the craziest bets in history.

Who is Fit to Go?

When asking who will be the first to get to Mars, we must turn our attention to the historical progress of the human space exploration programs. Creating incredible technology is the first step to reaching another planet. The second thing is to select capable and knowledgeable people. At first, the requirements for the team members included perfect health and expertise in at least two areas of science.

Those requirements were necessary because travelling with the shuttles and rockets from the past put great pressure on the human body. This prevented many capable scientists from reaching for the stars because they could not pass the army-standard physical test.

Now, the competitors in the race to the Red Planet develop their crafts with better protection for the human body. We all have heard promises that by the time the first ships leaves, the technology will be so advanced, that the physical requirements will be lower. Many scientists and owners of the space travel projects are sure that within a couple of decades, anyone could go to Mars. We believe them, and we are ready to bet on who will get to Mars first!

Who Will Probably Be the First People to Get to Mars?

A winner in the competition will not be clear until we see a human walking on Mars on live TV. With our current technological level, the trip to the planet will last for about seven months. Currently, the longest duration of an astronaut in a single space flight is 340 days held by Scott Kelly.

During a mission to Mars, the travellers will live together in a tight space for much longer. That is why the SpaceX Raptor and Blue Origin engines are in fierce competition to improve and decrease the travelling time. Who is going to Mars first? In short, the winner will have the fastest and safest ship.

The perfect ship has fast engines, comfort for the passengers, and excellent protection from the outside environment. We skip the size and ergonomic design of the ship because, as science proves, they are not much of a factor in the vacuum of space. On the other hand, the storage of the ship must be large enough to hold enough supplies for the trip to the planet and the next two years. This may seem like a lot of luggage, but the creators of the projects want to be sure that everything will be alright, and not like in the movies.

Build Your Own House

We have seen in movies like The Martian (2015) and Red Planet (2000) that humans can bring their habitat to other planets. There are a few options that the future colonisers can use when creating a settlement. The first way is to bring portable assembly houses, unless there is already IKEA on Mars. This is the most likely option, but there must be enough storage space on the ship. The alternative to this choice is to use a tent-like house that inflates.

The second possibility is to create long-lasting structures from local materials. This will be possible after an examination of the materials on the planet, not to mention that it will require a lot of time and effort for a single construction to be completed.

All this means that the permanent structures will be raised when the population increases and a proper location for the settlements is chosen. The third way is to land the ship on the planet. This is considered the least possible because Mars has different gravity and atmosphere, and that will make landing too dangerous.

A Day in the Life of a Mars Resident

Humans on Mars will have the same needs as on Earth. A cup of hot coffee in the morning is a lifesaver before a day in the dangerous environment outside. The first colonists will not be able to plant seeds or pick fruits form the forest. Many scientists explore the possibility to grow crops on the Red Planet. There is no doubt that this will be possible one day, but the first travellers will have to rely on whatever they bring with themselves.

Getting clean air is as necessary as food, warmth, and clean water. There are already machines that can synthesise breathable air. Other inventions can purify or enrich the air with oxygen until it becomes breathable. Everything will be alright for the human Martians as long as they remember to have plenty of air supply in the habitats and the suits outside.

Even though there is water on Mars, the colonisers will not be able to drink from the nearest river. To them, the warm bath will be just a dream. The colonists will have to examine the water resources on Mars and figure out which are suitable for use after purification.

Medical Emergencies

Life on Mars may not be as tough as we think. One of the most dangerous things that could happen to a member of the team is a physical injury or a mental breakdown. The explorers will be far from a hospital full of all kinds of medical personnel. That is why the medical bay and health supplies must be sufficient. It is considered that a doctor should be present in almost every mission. Besides all this, all travellers must know CPR and first aid procedures.

The people on the International Space Station are in constant connection with Earth and can always get help. It will not be so easy for the people on Mars. They will have to consider the time delay in the signal of the messages. It is predicted that situations of vital importance will have instructional videos and additional information in the database. This way, the Red Planet teams could act fast and fix the basic and most common injuries.

Playing with High-Tech Toys All the Time

Once the Mars residents have their coffee, it is time to work. The Apollo 11 space mission showed us that smart and capable people could survive with the help of simple gadgets. People who choose to go on a mission to Mars will have much better equipment. Their top-notch tech-toys will be part of the transport, their work, and daily life.

One of the best things about going to the Red Planet is the high-end technology you will use daily. The travellers may also use robots like the ones created by Left Hand Robotics, AIST, and can even have pets from Petronics. Who is going to mars first is just as an important question as how humans will move around the planet. We can see many of the vehicles used by cosmonafts and astronauts on the Moon. Today many companies create fully functioning vehicles for tough terrains, and there is no doubt that there will be at least one of them on the mission to the Red Planet.

Friends, Popcorn & Movies

With every new interview, we see that Elon Musk is a really cool guy. His zeal to reach the Red Planet makes us think that all colonisers will be at least half as cool and friendly as he is. But even if you are the coolest and collected person, being so far from home, and working all the time may cause psychological pressure and tension in the team. The humans on Mars will need time off.

Currently, the astronauts on ISS can bring personal belongings, watch movies, or listen to music on their computers. It is more than likely that the travellers to Mars will be given the same freedom, if not greater. When wondering who will be the first to get to Mars, we must not forget that the travelers will need a good work schedule with enough time for recreational activities and rest.

Most workplaces on Earth have team-building events. Knowing how crowded and trapped in a tight space the humans will be, it is mandatory to keep the good tone of voice all the time. Movie nights on the Red Planet may be just as important as the solitude time. Since Mars has gravity, the colonisers will be able to play board games and even try sports outside.

We know that most confined workplaces have strict relationships code. This is meant to avoid frictions in the group caused by negative emotions and failed relationships. Even so, there are plans for entire families to head to the Red Planet and form communities and cities. Just imagine the first wedding on Mars…

Vacation on Earth

Who will get to Mars first – SpaceX or NASA, is an important debate in the eyes of the gods of gambling, but more important is who will manage to get our people back. In 2024 the race to Mars includes the following competitors:

Regardless who wins, we will make a jump ahead in a time when the Mars colonisation is completed. There will be no spoiler alerts here on who won the race. After the teams have travelled and have built habitats, worked a little bit and greeted the second mission, it would be time to rest.

Judging by the speed of the latest developments in aeronautics and space travel, we bet that it will be perfectly possible for the first travellers to Mars to return to Earth within a decade. The next step in the development is finding who will establish regular trips to the Red Planet. We believe that this is a topic for an entirely different article. If your gambling horoscope states you need to place a bet, maybe you should consider a long-term investment here!

Research Negotiation Tactics

The two big questions are who will get to Mars first, and who will make the first contact with an alien species. There are a lot of conspiracy theories about the first contact, but so far there is no official statement by a government facility. Meeting an extraterrestrial for the first time has been discussed in the mainstream media, in movies, and science fiction books. You may not know that, but many governments and scientists consider the first encounter and have created different scenarios.

Life on Mars is an opportunity that will take us further than ever before from Earth and a step closer to meeting extraterrestrial species. Researching communication methods and negotiation tactics can help greatly in the daily life of a human-Martian colony. The bonus of this knowledge is the ability to handle correctly encounters with Xenomorphs, Romulans, and even Marvin the Martian (Warner Brothers). If you are wondering – yes, there are bets which alien species we will meet first. Are you ready to join in that betting game, too?

Life on Mars FAQ

In our article about travelling to the Red Planet and life on Mars, we told you about the bets placed on the competitors, the living environments, and how you can go back. Now, we will answer some of the most common questions asked about the mission to Mars.