Mars and Its Exploration
This 6-week short course is a compact primer about the planet MARS AND ITS EXPLORATION, past, present, and future. The course covers Mars’ orbital and global characteristics, its exploration history, the planet’s origin and evolution through time, its enigmatic moons Phobos and Deimos, the search for life on Mars, and the future human exploration and settlement of Mars. Included in the course are surveys of human exploration mission architectures, propulsion systems and transfer trajectories to reach and return from Mars, crew selection criteria and training, surface and subsurface exploration strategies and technologies, and prospects for resource extraction and permanent human presence.
The course is designed as foundational instruction for astronauts, space professionals, college students, and individuals with deep interest in space exploration. There are no prerequisites in any STEM field; just a strong commitment to highly focused learning in a short time. Classes are taught online in English.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
After taking this short course, the participant will have a professional working knowledge and understanding of Mars and of its exploration history, present programs, and future opportunities. Professionals in space and related fields, students interested in aerospace engineering, robotics, space missions, astronomy, astrophysics, earth and planetary sciences, will acquire through this course a solid foundation in state-of-the-art martian science and exploration.
