Finding the perfect location to build a human base on Mars

(Dan Tri) - Water is not only an essential resource to sustain life for astronauts during long-term activities on Mars, but water is also used for many other important tasks.

Humanity is still determined to realize the dream of conquering Mars (photo: UAESA).

The dream of sending humans to Mars has been cherished for decades, but while corporations like SpaceX aim to send astronauts to the Red Planet within the next 20 years, making it a reality remains a huge challenge.

The unknowns of long-duration space travel, along with securing the resources necessary to sustain astronauts at a suitable base, remain major hurdles.

However, a new study offers hope by suggesting that water – one of the most important resources – may be much easier to find on Mars than previously thought.

Specifically, the research published in the journal JGR Planets revealed that astronomers have identified an ideal location to establish a base on Mars, located near a frozen body of water that is easily accessible.

Finding and securing a direct supply of essential resources on Mars at any base location is key to planning a long-term settlement on the Red Planet.

While the impact of living on Mars on humans is not yet fully understood, having resources available locally would provide a huge advantage, significantly reducing the amount of supplies that would need to be transported from Earth.

Not only does this make the mission more feasible, it also frees up valuable space on the spacecraft for other important materials or resources.

The new study focused on Amazonis Planitia, a vast volcanic plain located between the Martian equator and poles, where astronomers observed craters with distinctive bright rims—a common sign of ice, similar to those found on Earth.

They believe this is evidence of the existence of pockets of ice just below the surface. Remarkably, these ice deposits are located quite close to the surface, allowing astronauts to easily access them simply by drilling.

Water on Mars is not just for drinking. It is also an essential resource for many other applications, including the production of propellant.

Without a suitable water source near the base, establishing a permanent base of operations would be extremely difficult.

If the observations at Amazonis Planitia are confirmed, humanity may have found the ideal location for its first base, alleviating concerns about running out of water on the Red Planet.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/tim-ra-dia-diem-hoan-hao-de-xay-dung-can-cu-cho-con-nguoi-tren-sao-hoa-20250629231124698.htm