Mars, in search of life (Arte): after the experiments, the big leap?

It is a star half the size of the Earth, located tens of millions of kilometers away, colder than our planet because it is farther from the Sun... and yet it fascinates us. “Since the 1960s, around fifty missions have already been launched towards Mars, explains Francis Rocard, astrophysicist at the National Center for Space Studies (CNES)*. Even if we explore the entire solar system, this planet therefore exerts a special attraction." Particular, no doubt, but widely shared given the variety of projects in progress... On February 18, NASA broadcast live images of the Perseverance rover landing on Mars (an adventure related in Mars, in search of life, a documentary broadcast on September 25 on Arte). Three months later, it was the turn of the Chinese to scrutinize the arrival of their exploration vehicle. As for the Emiratis, they are currently collecting data transmitted by an orbital probe whose role is to study the weather on the Red Planet.

Science but not only

With Perseverance and the return of samples, the United States wants to discover traces of life dating back billions of years. But, gradually, the missions go beyond scientific questioning to study the conditions of the arrival of man. A small instrument called Moxie was thus embarked on board the American rover. His calling? Produce oxygen from carbon dioxide, which makes up 95% of the Martian atmosphere. "This type of experience is a first that is bound to be repeated, advances Francis Rocard. The automatic missions will be used to embark and test technologies useful to humans on Mars. These experiments are moreover financed by Nasa's manned programs directorate. Which is studying a space probe project: the Mars Exploration Ice Mapper, an orbiter aimed at mapping the glaciers buried in the Martian subsoil. "The water they contain would be used by the astronauts present on site, but also to make fuel to propel the rockets that will take off from Mars", specifies the astrophysicist.

A springboard located 380,000 kilometers away

In the near future, the Moon will undoubtedly be the first step towards ultimate ambition. Earth's satellite has the advantage of only requiring three days of travel, making it an ideal testing ground for considering manned missions. "In 2015, NASA chose a lunar orbital space station called LOP-G, notes Francis Rocard. As the International Space Station (ISS) does today around the Earth, it is intended to revolve around from the moon." It will involve, as for Mars, sending 20-tonne housing or logistics modules into space. Another point in common with the Red Planet is that the Moon contains water. "Nasa is considering exploiting this resource. If it proves possible to use it to produce fuel, the LOP-G would act as a service station where it would be possible to refuel to go to Mars in the 2030s. -2040", foresees Francis Rocard.

Challenge or madness?

Does this mean that the Martian city Nüwa, imagined by the architecture firm Abiboo, could one day be embodied? And what about the human colonies that billionaire Elon Musk , boss of the astronautics company SpaceX, promises to send to the Red Planet one day? For Francis Rocard, "we're bordering on delirium!" Because many difficulties remain to be overcome before being able to set up a Martian team: the duration of the mission, necessarily long; the landing of heavy modules in a very sparse atmosphere; relaunch; protection against radiation dangerous to man; on-site power generation, which may require the use of nuclear power. In total, the financial cost is estimated at 400 billion dollars over thirty years. So why continue to cherish this fantasy? “The answer would rather have to do with the formula of the famous mountaineer George Mallory, believes Francis Rocard. Asked about his irrepressible desire to climb Everest, he replied: “Because it is there!”. Simply.

*Author of the book Latest news from Mars, the mission of the century, published by Flammarion.

TV program :

Mars, in search of life, documentary, Saturday September 25 at 8.50 p.m., on Arte.