The race to reach Mars has become a truly (0) INTERNATIONAL (NATION) effort, with several space agencies and private companies competing to lead the next stage of 1EXPLORE. Sending people to another planet is an extraordinarily 2AMBITION goal that would have seemed pure science fiction only a few decades ago. A successful crewed 3LAND on Mars would represent one of humanity's greatest achievements. The journey, however, would be extremely 4DANGER: astronauts would face cosmic radiation, months of weightlessness and the constant risk of equipment failure. Engineers around the world are working on creative 5SOLVE to these problems, from recycling water to growing food on board. Some experts even believe that humans will one day 6COLONY the red planet, turning it into a permanent second home. Whether or not that 7POSSIBLE becomes a reality, the knowledge gained along the way will push 8SCIENCE understanding much further than before.