Elon Musk’s North Star has always been Mars. So when the SpaceX CEO recently mentioned making the red planet a priority, it wasn’t exactly a surprise. But SpaceX also plays a key role in another deep space exploration mission: the US’s Artemis program, established by Musk’s best buddy President Trump in 2017 with the mission of returning Americans to the moon. 

Now, Musk has called the moon a distraction and criticized Artemis’s stodgy architecture. So what are the main differences between exploring the Moon and Mars – and what do Musk’s musings mean for Artemis?

The History of Moon and Mars Exploration

Human deep space exploration began with a bang in the 1960s. Fueled by the desire to demonstrate technological superiority, the US and the Soviet Union invested heavily in their space programs to beat each other to landing a man on the moon: the ultimate display of dominance. But when the US clinched the win in 1969, the point was made and there was no political need for a sustained presence on the moon. So while proposals for crewed missions to Mars were floating around as early as the 1950s, any missions for human deep space exploration were canned before concrete plans could materialize. That’s not to say no exploration took place, though; over the next few decades, the US, USSR, Russia, and China – plus a few other countries – deployed a flurry of scientific probes to the Moon and Mars.

While a few renewed efforts to send people reared their heads over the years, it wasn’t until the 2020s that things began to kick off again. The US announced Artemis in 2017, which aims to establish a continued US presence on the moon and eventually move on to Mars; after years of delays and cost overruns, the first (uncrewed) mission took off in 2022. In 2021, China and Russia announced a joint lunar base known as the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS); two years later, China announced its goal to land people on the moon by 2030. 

Meanwhile, a small army of commercial space companies had set up shop in the US. Among them is SpaceX, which in 2023 began launching Starship: the first rocket designed for Martian colonization. The company is pursuing a relentless testing campaign and aims to send the first uncrewed missions to Mars in 2026. NASA also contracted it to land the next Americans on the moon in 2027.  

Read also: The Pros and Cons of Space Colonization: Should We Expand?

The Moon vs Mars: Key Differences in Exploration

Distance

What goes for Earthly real estate also rings true in space: location, location, location. The Moon is clearly the frontrunner here; at a distance of 384,400 kilometers, travel time for human ships is only around three days. Since it’s so close (cosmically speaking), launch windows – dictated by Earth and the moon’s alignments – are much more frequent than for further destinations. The short distance also makes mission logistics less complicated, and it’s easier to abort a mission if something goes sideways. 

Mars isn’t quite as peachy in this respect. On average, it’s 225 million kilometers away from Earth. That’s a lot of fuel and travel time, so missions to Mars usually wait for the perfect planetary alignment to make the trip as quick as possible; this launch window only opens every two years. Travel time varies according to the mission and the spacecraft’s capabilities, but one-way trips usually take around nine months (though Musk has suggested 80- to 150-day journeys). 

Atmosphere

Neither the Moon nor Mars features a particularly attractive atmosphere, but Mars wins this round simply because the Moon, for all intents and purposes, is a vacuum. While it’s got a few gases floating around, their importance to any mission is pretty much negligible. Mars does have an atmosphere, albeit a feeble one; it consists of 95% carbon dioxide and has an atmospheric pressure over 100 times weaker than Earth’s. 

In either case, you’d quickly croak without a spacesuit. Even with one on, you’d need to figure out how to shield yourself from deadly radiation hailing from the sun and deep space. The moon and Mars both lack the protection of a global magnetic shield; in Mars’s case, losing its magnetic field billions of years ago allowed solar wind to strip away its atmosphere.

Gravity

Again, neither candidate is truly impressive here; still, Mars has about a third of Earth’s gravitational pull, while the Moon has about a sixth. That can pose serious health concerns for astronauts, making Mars the slightly better option. But low gravity can also be a plus; since so little energy is needed to take off from the Moon, it could become a useful jumping-off point for missions headed deeper into space.

Resources

Both the Moon and Mars have some things going for it when it comes to resources. Both have water, which can be used for sustenance and rocket fuel; on the moon, it’s mostly in icy craters at the poles, while Mars has its ice caps and underground lakes. Mars’s ice and CO2 can be used to make methane, the fuel used by Starship (alongside oxygen). The Moon and Mars also have a good view of the sun, though Martian dust storms make solar panels tricky to maintain; still, Mars has wind that could be used for power generation. While their compositions are different, the moon and Mars both feature a set of raw materials that could be used to build dwellings and other things needed for survival. 

Mars’ atmosphere, though thin, is a significant asset and makes the planet the better option for independent human presence; an experiment for transforming Martian atmospheric gases into oxygen is already at work aboard NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover. Lugging all the equipment and resources needed to kickstart a colony to Mars is a bit of a pain, but the red planet is not just richer in useful raw materials, but they’re also generally easier to access than on the moon. 

Meanwhile, the Moon’s closer distance to Earth means that colonies can be resupplied much easier than on Mars. The lunar surface is rich in Helium-3, an isotope that could prove useful as a fuel for fusion energy; however, it’s unclear just how hot an asset it’ll become. The moon is also home to a slew of rare-Earth metals – but again, it’s uncertain whether they’ll be worth the effort of mining the moon. 

Why Does Elon Musk Want To Go To Mars and Skip The Moon?

Elon Musk’s Vision for Mars

Musk founded SpaceX because of what he perceives as an existential threat: if something wipes out life on Earth, that extinguishes the only known life in the universe. ‘Making humanity multiplanetary,’ as SpaceX calls its mission, ensures that life survives if Earth goes bust. Since Mars is the most Earth-like body in the solar system, Musk has made reaching it SpaceX’s number one priority. Along the way, SpaceX conquered the Earthly launch industry and became a favorite of NASA’s, which plans on using Starship to land on the Moon. Musk prefers Mars since it’s more suitable for independent colonies, but it wasn’t until recently that he expressed his distaste for NASA’s plans.

What Does This Mean for NASA?

SpaceX is heading to Mars with or without NASA; in theory, their plans need not interfere with each other. But SpaceX’s Mars project – with Starship at the helm – is advancing at a pace no governmental agency could afford, neither in budget nor public image. Sitting that out would be one hell of a missed opportunity for NASA. And now that Musk is Trump’s right-hand man – and former SpaceX astronaut Jared Isaacman has been nominated as NASA administrator – it’s likely that NASA will sharpen its focus on Mars. 

Until recently, this would’ve been unthinkable. Artemis and the SLS rocket at its core depend on politically influential contractors like Boeing, who greatly profited off the Space Shuttle program; US Congress directed NASA to carry over their cost-plus contracts to SLS, resulting in an astronomically expensive and delayed program whose primary mission is providing jobs. Now, there’s a considerable chance SLS is binned and Artemis gets a shakeup under the new administration. 

The Arguments for Moon Exploration

• Closer in distance, shorter travel time
• Sustaining resources available:
  • Water ice
  • Sunlight for solar power
  • Regolith (soil) can be processed for shielding, solar panels, and more
• Could be mined for Helium-3 and REMs

Key lunar exploration efforts:

• NASA (US): Artemis
• CNSA (China): Chang’e, ILRS
• Roscosmos (Russia): ILRS (partner), Luna-Glob
• ISRO (India): Chandrayaan

 The Arguments for Mars Exploration

• More Earth-like atmosphere and gravity
• Sustaining resources available:
  • Water ice and underground lakes
  • Sunlight, wind for power
  • CO2 and water converted to oxygen and rocket fuel
  • More abundant resources for colony sustenance that are easier to access

Key Martian exploration efforts:

• SpaceX (US)
• NASA (US): Artemis (later phases; details unclear)
• CNSA (China): Tianwen (a suite of robotic deep-space probes; crewed mission details unclear)

Read also: The Benefits of Space Exploration and Its Importance

The Future of Space Exploration: Moon, Mars, or Both?

Neither the moon nor Mars are pleasant places to find oneself, but both their characteristics cater to different cosmic goals. The more Earthlike Mars is the better option for permanent, fully independent colonies, while the Moon is more practical for mining and trying one’s hand at space tech. 

It’s therefore likely that both will have a part to play in the future of crewed space exploration. For governmental agencies, the Moon is the logical first step before sending astronauts further out. Geopolitics is another important factor; the US or China wouldn’t want to put all its energy towards a risky Mars mission and leave the Moon to its rival. That’s why NASA is unlikely to dump its lunar program altogether even if it takes Mars more seriously. 

But to SpaceX, which is working under the urgency of its Mars mission – the sooner the planet is colonized, the sooner that existential threat is eliminated – the Moon might really be a distraction. Mars is a massive goal for which SpaceX will need all the help it can get, hence Musk’s lobbying for the US to shift its focus. But one day, SpaceX might get the last laugh; its Starlink T&Cs state its intention to recognize Mars as a ‘free planet’ that no Earthly government will have authority over. For now, though, the question remains whether any of these endeavors are possible in the first place; be it the Moon and Mars, both have some devilish obstacles to overcome. Space is hard – pick your poison.

• Boeing is launching the Q4S satellite in 2026 to demonstrate quantum entanglement swapping in space, a milestone in the endeavor for global quantum communication networks.
• The mission will test quantum information transfer over vast distances, improving secure communications and precision in data gathering across commercial, civil, and military sectors.
• HRL Laboratories has been a key partner in developing the space-hardened payload, which will perform real-time photon entanglement and analysis aboard the satellite.
• Boeing sees future applications of this technology in deep space missions and satellite constellations, with potential integration into NASA and DARPA initiatives.

Boeing has announced the scheduled launch of its internally funded Q4S satellite mission, set to take place in 2026. The mission will demonstrate quantum entanglement swapping in space, a first in quantum networking technology, and explore how quantum networks can transmit data over vast distances while remaining highly synchronized. This innovative technology aims to enhance secure global communication networks and improve data collection accuracy.

In addition to its potential applications in various fields, including commercial, civil, and military sectors, with relevance to climate science, agriculture, and secure communications, the technology could enable fault-tolerant systems, secure voting mechanisms, and blind quantum computing, which allows data to be processed without exposing sensitive information. “We’re making a big bet on quantum technology,” said Jay Lowell, chief engineer at Boeing’s Disruptive Computing, Networks & Sensors organization, emphasizing Boeing’s commitment to expanding quantum networks beyond simple point-to-point communication​.

Quantum Entanglement Swapping: A Leap Beyond Current Technology

The Q4S mission will test how quantum information can be transmitted over vast distances using the phenomenon of quantum entanglement swapping. This protocol allows for the transfer of quantum information between two particles that have never interacted, a significant leap beyond existing quantum key distribution (QKD) technologies, which rely on traditional communication channels for security. “Quantum entanglement swapping underpins the communication of the future, expanding quantum networks beyond simple point-to-point communication. We’re launching Q4S to prove it can be done in orbit,” explained Lowell.

Lowell explained how the technology works compared to conventional communication methods, noting that while lasers will still be used to transfer quantum information, it will be carried on a single photon. This method allows for enhanced measurement precision in scientific applications, as sensors across different nodes can gather correlated data without direct physical interaction. This technology aims to facilitate the development of highly precise sensing and computing components that would have the potential to lead to breakthroughs in various fields, including resource monitoring and secure, tamper-proof communications.

The Scheduled Q4S Mission

The on-orbit test will build on Boeing’s payload and technology partner, HRL Laboratories’, successful benchtop exercises. During the Q4S mission, the onboard entanglement-swapping system will create two pairs of entangled photons. A Bell state measurement will compare one photon from each pair, causing the remaining two photons to become entangled, despite never having interacted with each other directly. The mission will use a radiation-hardened processor to analyze and process the results in real-time before transmitting the data back to Earth.

Lowell also addressed how the Boeing team space-hardened key components of the payload in preparation for the test and how the test will inform the Boeing team on better fortifying future payloads. “Part of the output of this experiment is to get real established data on the deleterious effects of being in the space environment on several of the components,” he stated, explaining that the team has instrumented the payload to observe component degradation over time in the harsh environment of space.

Applications for Space Exploration and Beyond

Boeing’s quantum networking efforts hope to go beyond just this satellite test. Lowell noted the potential applications of the technology in space exploration, with possible integration into satellite constellations and deep space missions. “It’s probable that this technology will be useful, particularly in using sensors to look at things farther afield and to be able to measure what’s going on in those long-range exploration missions more accurately,” Lowell said, referencing possible lunar or Martian exploration​ applications. NASA, for instance, has already established a roadmap for the use of quantum networks in space exploration, and DARPA is in communication with the Boeing team about prospective hybrid quantum and classical networks.

The Q4S mission marks an exciting step toward the development of scalable, secure quantum communication networks. Lowell notes that the successful demonstration of Q4S is just the beginning. “It’s not a question of if this [quantum networking technology] happens, but when and how,” said Lowell. While predicting exact timelines for such groundbreaking technology can be challenging, Lowell and his team are focused on understanding the necessary milestones to make a fully operational global quantum network a reality​.

This year’s theme, “Building Resilient & Robust SATCOM,” will guide the agenda, which moves away from geographic splits to focus on key topics. The event will feature short presentations, interactive panels, and topical keynotes, providing a varied mix of perspectives from around the globe.

Global MilSatCom 2024 Highlights

Cybersecurity for Space & SATCOM Focus Day (November 4, 2024)

This dedicated day will address the critical aspects of cybersecurity within the space and satellite communication sectors. Experts from international defense organizations will discuss current challenges and future solutions to enhance cyber resilience.

Main Global MilSatCom Conference (November 5-7, 2024)

Featuring over 100 expert speakers, this core event will explore the latest advancements and strategic developments in military satellite communications.

SME Expo & Innovation Stage

This new platform will showcase groundbreaking technologies and innovative solutions from small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting collaboration and growth within the industry.

Women in Space Forum

This forum celebrates women’s achievements in the MilSatCom field and aims to strengthen networks, share knowledge, and inspire the next generation of female space technology leaders.

Graduate Careers in Space Conference

Addressing the global skills shortage in the space sector, this forum offers students and young professionals the chance to engage with industry leaders, gain insights, and explore career opportunities in MilSatCom.

To enhance the conference experience, Global MilSatCom 2024 will introduce the Global Connect App, which facilitates seamless networking, allowing attendees to schedule meetings, engage in closed-door discussions, and participate in interactive Q&A sessions with leading experts.

Keynote Speakers

• Vice Admiral Dr. Thomas Daum, Chief of German Cyber and Information Domain Service, Bundeswehr
• Major General Sami Nurmi, Deputy Chief of Staff – Strategy, Finnish Ministry of Defence
• Deanna Ryals, Director, International Affairs, Space Systems Command, USSF
• Michelle Mullen, Director General Military Communications and Space Systems, Canadian Department of National Defence

Registration Information:

Global MilSatCom 2024 is free for military and government representatives, ensuring broad participation and the opportunity to connect with over 500 military and government officials worldwide. For more information and to register, visit www.globalmilsatcom.com.

The Early Bird £400 saving ends June 28.

Stay informed and connected with the latest in military satellite communications by attending Global MilSatCom 2024.

• The SETI Institute is supporting project that combines neuroscience, quantum physics and space exploration.
• Doppelgängers³ project challenges conventional narratives of space colonization by integrating diverse perspectives.
• The film will premier at SXSW 2024.
• Image: Nick Ballón

PRESS RELEASE — The SETI Institute, leading humanity’s quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe and share that knowledge with the world, is pioneering innovative approaches to understanding our place in the cosmos. The SETI Institute is proud to support a groundbreaking project from London-based filmmaker and SETI Institute Designer of Experiences Dr. Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian that combines insights from intergenerational trauma, neuroscience, quantum physics, and space exploration.

Premiering at SXSW 2024, Doppelgängers³ is a feature film and research project that challenges conventional narratives of space colonization by integrating diverse perspectives. Ben Hayoun-Stépanian will present this multidisciplinary endeavor at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2024, highlighting its unique blend of science, culture, and storytelling within the decolonial space and space culture sessions.

The project spotlights the importance of acknowledging collective trauma and its impacts — a burgeoning field in neuropsychology research. By weaving together the stories of three individuals across different geographies, Doppelgängers³ imagines a utopian community on the moon that learns from the past and aspires to a future where diversity and plurality are celebrated.

Doppelgängers³ poses critical questions about these visions, urging a reconsideration of space exploration through a lens that values inclusivity, ethical considerations, and transnational thinking.

Dr. Franck Marchis, Senior Astronomer and Director of Unistellar Citizen Science at the SETI Institute, and a scientific advisor to Doppelgängers³, emphasized the project’s approach. ” It transcends traditional documentaries by blending neuroscience, quantum physics, and space science with a human touch, fostering new dialogues and collaborations while adding a sprinkle of fun and humor.”

The initiative aims to spark conversations in the space science community and contribute to a joint paper for the International Astronautical Congress (IAC).

The filmmakers hope that Doppelgängers³ will not be just a film but a movement to decolonize the space sector and imagine new futures that honor our shared humanity and diversity. The project, with its world premiere at SXSW 2024 in the Feature Documentary, Vision Category, invites audiences to engage with bold ideas and creative visions that challenge the status quo.

For more information and updates on Doppelgängers³, visit www.doppelgangers.space.

Screening dates at SXSW are:

• March 9, 12pm – 1:15pm, Alamo Lamar 9
• March 9, 12:30pm – 1:43pm, Alamo Lamar 3
• March 10, 2:45pm – 3:58pm, Satellite Venue, AFS Cinema
• March 13, 10:45am – 11:58am, Alamo Lamar 6

The SETI Institute will be presenting a panel discussion at SXSW on Friday, March 8 at 11:30 am (JW Marriott, Salon ABC):

Finding E.T.  Then What?
The quest for E.T. accelerates as humanity’s technology advances. Powerful tools and global collaboration aim to detect signals from alien civilizations. If we find them, understanding and responding will pose unprecedented challenges. Two ground-breaking scientists will join with an artist who staged a revolutionary piece of global theater called A Sign in Space: creating and transmitting an “extraterrestrial” message to be decoded and interpreted by SETI professionals and the public. Can we unite the people of Earth to be prepare for a message from the real E.T.?

The conversation will be moderated by Dr. Franck Marchis and include SETI AIR artist Daniela DePaulis along with Dr. Shelley Wright and Dr. Wael Farah.

Ben Hayoun-Stépanian will also participate in a panel discussion on Friday, March 8 at 4 pm (Austin Convention Center, Room 9C):

Space Feminisms: Reimagining People, Planets, & Power
As informed by the upcoming edited volume “Space Feminisms” (Bloomsbury Press), this panel leverages feminism as a powerful mode of analysis to launch alternate narratives and materialities proposing novel historical interpretations and contemporary configurations of outer space—as informed by the humanities, the social sciences, the arts, and design. Through a dynamic conversation between the book’s editors and contributors, we will explore innovative tactics and disruptive participations to envision generative, alternative, and equitable futures in outer space.

Image credit: SpaceCom Expo

Some key takeaways:

Commercial and Government Collaboration

The need for commercial and government collaboration has never been more necessary and both parties are doing the work to make it happen. From military defence to addressing the issue of space debris, we’re seeing great strides made in policy and processes for businesses and government agencies to leverage their diverse strengths to meet our collective goals.

Accessibility and Sustainability

More accessible, cost-effective, and sustainable space exploration and travel was a common objective amongst companies, organizations, and attendees alike. Innovative manufacturing, solutions like in-orbit services, and new ways to manage space traffic and debris are spurring opportunities and helping to sustain growth in the industry.

Security in Space

Addressing security in space is paramount. With the global dependence on space assets including telecommunications, financial services, and even water and electrical distribution, the disruption, corruption, or dysfunction of assets could debilitate economies, public health, and even the safety of entire nations. Initiatives to mitigate risk include the formation of the US Space Force, safeguarding GPS technology, and new mandates ensuring space infrastructure is secure by design.

Thank you to the SpaceCom Expo team for having us – looking forward to seeing everyone at the event next year!

Nelson’s trip, which was to include meetings in the United Arab Emirates, focused on reviewing the progress of joint space projects between India and the United States, including the ambitious NISAR mission. NISAR, the first spacecraft in NASA’s Earth Observatory System being jointly developed by NASA and ISRO, represents a pivotal collaboration in space technology. This visit underscored the growing importance of India in the global space arena and highlighted the potential for further advancements and cooperative efforts in space exploration and technology.

India’s space technology sector, particularly among startups, has experienced a remarkable surge in investment and development in recent years. Between 2010 and 2019, Indian space tech startups collectively raised US $35 million in funding, a figure that increased to US $28 million in 2020 alone. This upward trajectory continued with $96 million in 2021 and an impressive US $112 million in 2022, as reported by Tracxn, a provider of intelligence on private markets. By August of this year, the sector had already attracted US $62 million in funding.

These startups are not just accumulating capital but are also at the forefront of innovation, working on diverse technologies ranging from hyperspectral imaging and 3D-printed rocket engines to satellite propulsion systems and the development of sustainable, less toxic rocket fuels. This growth in the Indian space tech industry underscores the country’s burgeoning potential and capability in the global space technology arena.

Featured image: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson gives remarks after Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Sandhu signed the Artemis Accords, Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington.
Credit: NASA / Bill Ingalls

The magic of launching those rockets left a lasting impression on Tani, a sentiment he expressed during a talk with students in Professor Giovanni Zanalda’s space economics class at Duke University. Zanalda, a professor with numerous roles including co-chair of the Space Diplomacy Lab and director of the Rethinking Diplomacy Program, facilitated the engaging discussion.

Power of the Thumb

“I was enthralled by the magic of the power of my thumb, making something go so fast and so high,” Tani told students of Zanalda’s space economics class. “We were astronaut crazy in the 1960s. I never thought it would be a reality.”

Tani’s childhood obsession with astronauts never faded, but it wasn’t until his mid-20s, while working in the aerospace industry, that he had a chance encounter with an astronaut. This meeting rekindled his childhood dream, prompting him to pursue a career in space exploration. He shared insights from this pivotal moment with the students, noting the significant impact it had on his career trajectory.

“It lit the lightbulb in my head to think maybe there was a path for me,” he said.

His efforts paid off when he was accepted into NASA’s space program in 1996, marking the beginning of a 16-year tenure with the agency. Tani’s impressive career includes participating in two space missions, spending 120 days aboard the International Space Station, and completing six spacewalks.

Now serving as the director of business development operations for human exploration operations at Northrop Grumman, Tani took the opportunity to recount memorable experiences from his time in space, providing students with a unique glimpse into life as an astronaut. He shared amusing anecdotes about adjusting to Earth’s gravity after time in space, and he described the daunting yet thrilling experience of conducting spacewalks.

Inability to Drive

“There was lots of walking into walls, very entertaining for your kids. I couldn’t drive until a week after I got back. I could navigate a left turn but no right turns,” responded Tani to one student’s question on the experience of returning to Earth after spending time in zero gravity.

When asked about his experience with space walks, Tani answered honestly: “It’s so scary you are going to go out to the vacuum of space. You know it’s just you and your buddy, but there are 100 people at NASA watching you, you are so consumed with getting the right bolt in the right place.”

Tani also took a moment to reflect on the evolution of human space flight, tracing its history from the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 to the contemporary era dominated by private space companies like SpaceX. He expressed his disappointment at the stagnation in government funding and enthusiasm for space travel, highlighting the challenges NASA faces with its limited budget.

“I would have hoped that we would see some sort of exponential kind of growth in the number of people that we can put into space,” said Tani, though added that though celebrities taking part in space flights certainly creates inspiration and excitement, one must think of the viability of a long-term business strategy in such scenarios and a rapid decline of interest and support after an adverse incident.

Potential

Despite these challenges, Tani sees potential in the private sector’s role in advancing space exploration. He expressed optimism about smaller space companies, praising their agility and willingness to take on risks.

“I am optimistic about small space companies, that can be agile, raise their own capital and take on risks that bigger companies aren’t willing to do,” said Tani. “The innovation happens at the small company level.”

With NASA planning to retire the International Space Station by 2030, Tani acknowledged the impending “growing pains” as the industry transitions to a greater reliance on private innovation. He posed thoughtful questions about the responsibilities of commercial space stations, underlining the complexity of navigating this new frontier in space exploration.

SOURCE: ‘Former Astronaut Discusses Space Travel and Its Future With Students.’ Duke Today

Featured image: Daniel Tani. Credit: Duke Today / Duke University