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Robotic Explorers Uncover Potential Habitats on Mars and Moon
20 Aug
Summary
- Robots explore lava caves on Lanzarote to map potential human habitats on Mars and Moon
- Elon Musk aims to establish self-sustaining Mars colony by 2050
- Humans living on Mars may undergo drastic physical changes, including bone density loss
In a significant step towards future space exploration, robotic teams have been exploring lava caves on the volcanic island of Lanzarote to map potential human habitats on Mars and the Moon. The research, conducted by a team of European academics and published in the journal Science Robotics, demonstrates the feasibility of using collaborative robotic systems for planetary exploration.
The robots successfully mapped the area around a skylight, a hole leading to an underground cave, and generated a 3D model of the cave interior. This breakthrough could aid Elon Musk's ambitious goal of establishing a self-sustaining colony on Mars by 2050.
However, experts warn that living on Mars may come with drastic physical changes for humans. According to research from 2024, the unforgiving Martian environment could push humans to evolve into a new sub-species. Astronauts on a three-year mission to Mars and back are expected to lose a third of their bone density, with around half of them potentially developing osteoporosis.
