Mars may seem inviting, but don’t be fooled. With dust storms, extreme temperature fluctuations, and radiation bombardment, this red planet is far from hospitable. Landing on Mars presents a unique challenge due to its thin atmosphere, requiring reckless engineering feats like NASA’s “sky crane” that lowered the Curiosity rover to the ground. Colonizing Mars will demand inventive solutions like radiation shielding and underground habitats. Despite the obstacles, Mars remains humanity’s best shot at life beyond Earth. So strap in, prepare for the worst, and hope that the Great Galactic Ghoul doesn’t thwart our efforts once again.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/everything-about-mars-is-the-worst/