Mars and space travel

In short: Space travel explores space with rockets, satellites, probes and space stations. Mars is the most important target for robotic missions and a possible future crewed landing.

In more detail: Rockets work on the recoil principle: expelled gas drives them in the opposite direction.

In detail

• First satellite: Sputnik in 1957; first human in space: Yuri Gagarin in 1961.
• Moon landing: Apollo 11 in 1969.
• Mars rovers: Curiosity and Perseverance search for traces of past life and collect rock samples.
• Mars features: Thin atmosphere, dust storms, Olympus Mons, the highest volcano in the solar system (planeten-im-ueberblick).
• Travel time: About seven months to Mars.
• Challenges: Radiation, supplies, psychological strain on the crew.
• Benefit: Weather observation, navigation, communication through satellites (satelliten-und-iss).
• Cost and debris: Space debris endangers satellites.