NASA Reveals New Plan to Send Humans to Mars

We're closer than ever to exploring Mars. After The Mars Curiosity Rover discovered water on the Red Plant, NASA has been ramping up its efforts to send the first human to the planet. Now, the agency has released a new report that outlines the next steps in the journey to Mars.

"NASA is closer to sending American astronauts to Mars than at any point in our history," said Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator, in a news release. "Today, we are publishing additional details about our journey to Mars plan and how we are aligning all of our work in support of this goal. In the coming weeks, I look forward to continuing to discuss the details of our plan with members of Congress, as well as our commercial and international and partners, many of whom will be attending the International Astronautical Congress next week."

The journey to Mars essentially has three hurdles, each with increasing challenges as humans move farther from Earth. These steps, however, allow NASA to manage these challenges one at a time while developing and demonstrating capabilities in incremental steps.

The steps themselves are called Earth Reliant exploration, the Proving Ground, and Earth Independent Activities. Earth Reliant exploration is focused on researchers aboard the International Space Station, the second stage of exploration is involved with complex operations in a deep space environment, and Earth Independent Exploration build on what is learned on the space station and in deep space to move toward the Mars vicinity.

"NASA's strategy connects near-term activities and capability development to the journey to Mars and a future with a sustainable human presence in deep space," said William Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations at NASA Headquarters. "This strategy charts a course toward horizon goals, while delivering near-term benefits, and defining a resilient architecture that can accommodate budgetary changes, political priorities, new scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs and evolving partnerships."

For more information about the new plan, you can find the full report online.

Related Stories

Pluto: NASA Announcing 'Amazing' Discovery (UPDATE)

NASA's Plan to Redirect Dangerous Asteroids from Earth (VIDEO)

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).