Mars Colony: Thin Air, But Not Enough for Humans

After a long journey, Leo arrives on Mars. Mars has some air, but it’s nothing like Earth’s—there’s barely any oxygen, just thin carbon dioxide, which humans can’t breathe. This is why Mars is so barren and empty: without enough oxygen, life as we know it can’t survive there.

At the Mars Colony, everything happens under domes, just like on the Moon. The domes protect people from thin air, wild dust storms, and freezing temperatures. Unlike Earth, where you can step outside anytime, life on Mars means always being indoors or in a suit. Mars scientists are working hard to change that. They’re testing ways to “terraform” the planet, which means making Mars’s atmosphere more like Earth’s. This would mean adding oxygen, making it warmer, and even creating rain. It’s a huge task, but scientists believe it’s possible!

Inside the domes, people have set up entire communities. There are gardens, homes, and schools. Leo sees scientists using “Oxy Generators” that split water into oxygen and hydrogen, recycling air to make it safe to breathe. Every drop of water is recycled too, so nothing is wasted. The Martian lifestyle is careful and efficient, just to make sure everyone has what they need.

Living Without Earth’s Air: A Whole New Way of Life

Leo realises how much he’s taken Earth’s air for granted. On the Moon and Mars, air isn’t just “there”—it has to be brought in, made, or recycled carefully. If anything goes wrong with the domes, people have to stay in emergency shelters or wear their suits.

In the end, Leo’s trip shows him that Earth is unique, with air all around us, free to breathe. On other worlds, people are finding ways to survive, but it’s a challenge that requires creativity and constant care. As humans explore space, they’re learning to use every resource wisely.

• How do you think it would feel to wear a spacesuit every time you go outside? Would you find it exciting or frustrating?
• Imagine living inside a dome where oxygen is limited. What would you miss most?
• What would you do if your spacesuit got damaged while outside? How would you handle such a scary situation?
• Do you think you could get used to a life where you can’t step outside freely? Why or why not?
• If water is so scarce on the Moon or Mars, how would you decide how much to use for drinking, washing, and other needs?
• How would you feel about drinking water that is recycled? Does the idea seem cool or strange to you?
• Imagine there’s no rain to refill water supplies. How would you make sure you never waste a drop?
• What kind of plants would you want to grow in a place where water is so limited?
• If you could design a mini-Earth inside a dome on Mars, what features of nature would you include? A small forest? A pond? Why?
• How would living on the Moon or Mars change your appreciation of Earth's nature?
• Do you think living in space would make you care more about protecting Earth’s air and water? Why?