I believe right now a Mars trip is not necessary because of the flaws we still have going through space flight. As observed through the Apollo missions, minor flaws caused by the astronauts caused delays or even abortion from a moon landing like the Apollo 13 lunar mission. This whole unit pointed out the critical effects space travel can have on a human, short term or long term. In NASA's online article "The Human Body in Space," they clearly state the most important factors to consider before taking flight into space. Some of these areas include space radiation, isolation and confinement, gravity fields, hostile. closed environments and other significant possible limitations. I believe we should continue to travel to the moon and international space station until safety on these missions are at a minimal level. Only then can we consider longer space flights to distant parts of the galaxy. Space flight should be commercial and safe enough for even exclusive personnel to travel in the harmful vacuum of space.

Colonizing Mars would be a big step in the direction of space operations. Making the Mars trip itself would be a challenge, but building/ maintaining earthly structures would take years or preparation and effort. As reviewed on Space X's "Mars & Beyond," Mars' day length, gravitational force, and other atmospheric conditions are significantly different froM Earth's own. Overall, this week's study focused on the future possibilities of the next generation's role in expanding humanity's limits or what we are capable of.