(Image Credit: NASA)
Hosting the solar system’s largest “mountains” and canyons, Mars is home to an array of geological features that would put Earth (or any other solar body) to shame.
While driving an “over sized golf cart” upon rusty soils will be fun, in order to understand the crimson world’s past, future Martians may have to figure out a way of navigating up the side of a rusty Martian cliff.
(SpaceRef) Initial human missions to Mars will be a precious commodity wherein a maximum amount of information is gathered by each crew. As was the case during innumerable terrestrial missions of exploration, the Martian terrain that visiting crews must traverse in order to gain an understanding will often be difficult. This is accentuated by the fact that Mars is a world of geology – one whose surface area is equal to dry surface on Earth. Human crews will be called upon to use a variety of skills and tools to traverse the Martian surface – including those often associated with hiking, mountaineering and technical climbing. While rovers and other mechanical devices will be employed, it should be assumed that skills commonly associated with rock climbing, caving, and mountaineering on Earth will also be required.
The article by Keith Cowing goes into greater detail of what future Martians will need to survive on that world, which may require a whole new space suit design (note: this is something Louise Riofrio may be able to assist with).
While mountain climbing on Mars will challenge even the most fit person on Earth, it may be rewarding experience for any future colonists–especially when one is able to reach the summit at the top.
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