A Year in Space | MARS

Humanity has never undertaken anything like sending humans to another planet. So how do humans get ready to go to Mars, or how do they survive this mission?

Now, last month we launched a new spacecraft as part of a re-energized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars. In two months, to prepare us for those missions, Scott Kelly will begin a year-long stay in space. So good luck, Captain! Proud of you!

An American astronaut is hours away from beginning his one-year mission on board the International Space Station. While Scott is in space, his twin brother, former shuttle Commander Mark Kelly, will stay on Earth. The brothers are perfect subjects to study.

The trip to Mars is a long trip—7 months. So you have to understand what it means for an astronaut to be in orbit for that amount of time. Pretty much any system in the body you can think of is affected from space flight. The cardiovascular system is affected, the muscular system is affected, the immune system is affected. Lots of things can go wrong the longer you spend in space. Frankly, we don't have very much data about exactly what 12 months is going to do to Scott's body. It's an unknown, and you're basically allowing yourself to be an experiment.

It could cost him his life. This mission could cost him his life.

"We're ready for the launch! We are ready for the launch!"

I'm a test pilot, so I think it's important to push the envelope.

Waving goodbye one last time before they loaded in, the risk factor of this, which is high, makes it even more interesting. The engines igniting, ramping up, and lift-off—the year in space starts now.

Kelly, Coren, and Pedona are on their way towards the International Space Station. Going to Mars, not only will people become invested in the safety and well-being of the explorers, but also there's that drama, that sense of suspense as to whether or not they can survive on a world that they were not made for.