LuvGreenTea2019 on Nostr: What is this obsession with Mars? Shouldn't we stop polluting, over-populating, and ...

What is this obsession with Mars? Shouldn't we stop polluting, over-populating, and destroying our own planet before we go to another planet?

It would cost billions of dollars that should be used on earth. That is, if it's possible.

Gemini AI says,

Key Challenges for Human Travel to Mars:

"Distance and Travel Time: Mars is significantly farther away than the Moon. A round trip could take approximately three years, posing immense challenges for life support, crew health, and mission planning. Communication delays between Earth and Mars can range from 4 to 24 minutes each way, requiring astronauts to be highly autonomous.  
Space Radiation: Outside Earth's protective magnetic field, astronauts will face much higher levels of galactic cosmic radiation and solar particle events. This radiation poses significant health risks, including increased cancer risk and damage to the central nervous system. Developing effective shielding for spacecraft and habitats is crucial.  
Microgravity and Partial Gravity: Prolonged exposure to microgravity during the journey and the 3/8th Earth gravity on Mars can lead to bone density loss, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular deconditioning, and other physiological changes. Countermeasures like rigorous exercise regimes and potentially artificial gravity systems are being explored.  
Hostile Environment: Mars has a very thin atmosphere, extreme temperature variations, and no breathable air or readily available liquid water on the surface (though water ice exists). Habitats will need to provide a closed-loop life support system, recycling air and water, and protecting against the harsh external conditions.  
Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL): Safely landing a large, crewed spacecraft on Mars is incredibly complex due to the thin atmosphere. Developing technologies to slow down from orbital speeds to a gentle landing for astronauts and large payloads is a major engineering hurdle.  
Psychological and Social Challenges: The long duration, isolation, and confinement of a Mars mission will present significant psychological and social challenges for the crew. Careful selection, training, and support systems will be essential to maintain crew cohesion and mental well-being.  
Sustainability: For a long-term human presence, utilizing Martian resources (in-situ resource utilization - ISRU) will be vital to reduce reliance on supplies transported from Earth. This includes extracting water ice, producing oxygen and rocket propellant from the Martian atmosphere or water, and potentially using Martian soil for construction. "