Current Missions
NASA Perseverance rover searches for ancient microbial life signs. Multiple nations orbit and land hardware on Mars annually.
Why Mars
It has water ice, manageable day length, and geology that preserves history. Venus and Mercury are far more hostile.
Human Challenges
Radiation exposure, life support systems, and two-year round-trip windows make crewed missions extraordinarily complex.
Timeline
Boots on Mars before 2040 is optimistic but plausible with sustained funding and international cooperation.