The exploration of outer space has long captured the imagination of scientists and the general public (0) ALIKE. Since the first successful moon landing in 1969, remarkable progress has been 1 in our understanding of the universe. Private companies have recently entered the space industry, investing billions of dollars 2 the development of reusable rockets and satellite technology. This has brought 3 a new era of competition, with several firms racing to offer commercial space travel to paying customers. The cost of launching a satellite into orbit has fallen significantly as a result 4 these innovations, making space more accessible than it has ever been. 5 so, the challenges involved in long-distance space travel remain enormous. Radiation, isolation, and the effects of low gravity on the human body are just a 6 of the obstacles that must be overcome before any crewed mission to Mars can take place. Scientists are working on solutions to these problems, but 7 of them has yet been resolved completely. The question of whether humans will one day live on another planet is no 8 a matter of science fiction — it is a serious subject of scientific research.