Mars On Earth

I was recently reading the November/December 2022 issue of “Science Scope” a publication of the National Science Teaching Association.  In this issue, I read the “Scope on the Skies” column, written by Bob Riddle.  He wrote a column entitled, “Where on Earth is Mars.”  

The day is coming when a crewed mission sets down on Mars and becomes the second group of humans to be “boots” on another world.  The first group consisted of Apollo 12 astronauts who landed and returned from our Moon.  However, getting to Mars is more of a challenge, as we have learned from the numerous robotic missions sent to Mars over the years.  How will we prepare our astronauts for this mission?