People have lengthy had a fascination with Mars, and NASA has bold plans to ship astronauts there inside the subsequent few a long time. Anybody strolling on Mars would possible discover solely a small fraction of the planet’s floor. However with out oceans or different our bodies of water, might an astronaut stroll all the way in which across the Crimson Planet? How lengthy would it not take to stroll round Mars?Unsurprisingly, a very long time — although precisely how lengthy could be onerous to say. If the astronaut might journey repeatedly at a strolling velocity, it could be a easy calculation.Associated: Boiling blood and radiation: 5 methods Mars can kill”We would wish basically two parameters,” mentioned Erdal Yigit, an affiliate professor of physics and astronomy at George Mason College who research the atmospheres of planets. These parameters are the astronaut’s velocity (velocity and path) and the space they might journey.If the particular person traveled alongside Mars’ equator, they might stroll about 13,300 miles (21,400 kilometers) to get all the way in which across the planet. Strolling round Mars via its poles would shave off about 100 miles (160 km), however the excessive chilly would pose a fair larger problem than the tough circumstances on the remainder of the planet, Yigit mentioned.The particular person’s velocity could be about 3.1 mph (5 km/h), which can be a median strolling velocity on Earth, straight alongside the equator, Yigit mentioned. Regardless of Mars’ diminished gravity (about 40% of Earth’s), Yigit doubts an individual’s strolling velocity could be a lot totally different on Mars. Like several back-country hiker on Earth, this particular person would possible be carrying a heavy load of provides — reminiscent of oxygen, water and meals — and could be carrying a heavy spacesuit.If somebody have been to stroll repeatedly round Mars at that velocity, the calculation could be easy: Simply divide the space by the rate. That might imply it could take about 4,290 hours. There are about 24.7 hours in a Martian day (referred to as a sol), so it could take roughly 174 sols to stroll round Mars repeatedly. That is slightly over 1 / 4 of a Martian yr, which is 668.6 sols.This indirect perspective view of the area surrounding Mars’ north pole was generated from the digital terrain mannequin and the nadir and colour channels of the Excessive Decision Stereo Digicam on the European House Company’s Mars Categorical orbiter. It reveals an unlimited swathe of rippled sand dunes within the foreground; kilometer-high icy cliffs and escarpments past these dunes; and smoother layers of mud and ice within the distance. (Picture credit score: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin)In fact, nobody would be capable of full that stroll repeatedly — on Mars, Earth or anyplace. Even when the particular person have been in a position to deliver sufficient oxygen, water and meals with them, and will eat and drink whereas strolling, they might nonetheless must cease to sleep. Assuming the astronaut slept about eight hours every evening, it could add about 56 sols. If the particular person stopped for 4 or 5 extra hours every sol to eat, relaxation, change garments, clear themselves, and arrange and deconstruct some sort of campsite, it could take one other 30 or 35 sols, relying on how lengthy they have been stopped.All in all, a extra lifelike estimate could be not less than 265 sols, about 40% of the Martian yr. However that calculation doesn’t account for potential obstacles, reminiscent of tough terrain. Mars has many mountains, together with some which might be taller than any on Earth, in addition to valleys, craters and lots of different geological options that might be robust to navigate.In fact, it is extremely unlikely that anybody will probably be strolling all the way in which round Mars anytime quickly. Individuals have circumnavigated Earth on foot, although it’s, after all, not possible to really stroll or run all the way in which round, because of the oceans. However people have walked on solely a small portion of the moon, regardless of touring there a number of instances. And strolling thus far and for therefore lengthy on Mars would pose many logistical issues, like bringing sufficient meals, water and oxygen and defending the particular person from the harmful impacts of radiation.Though it is extremely unlikely that people will stroll across the complete Crimson Planet, sending astronauts to the floor nonetheless has many benefits over rovers, Yigit mentioned.Rovers “are vulnerable to mud and other forms {of electrical} issues; one thing might occur,” he mentioned. With people “even when there are issues, we are able to discover options round them.”