We choose to go to Mars

Multiple researchers and students are involved in technological and scientific research related to Mars at NCKI. This includes designing automated greenhouses and other technologies needed for the colonisation of Mars. Additionally, Dr. Michaela Musilova of NCKI has been selected as an analogue astronaut, a so-called marsonaut, and a commander to take part in multiple simulated missions to Mars. The missions took place at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah and at HI-SEAS (Hawai'i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation) in Hawai'i, USA. The main purpose of all of these activities and research is to help pave the way to the colonisation of Mars in the future. Extensive research still remains to be done in preparation for this, such as the development of the equipment the marsonauts will need and in situ resource utilisation (making use of local resources for food, oxygen, water and fuel making, amongst others). 

Furthermore, the medical and psychological aspect of long duration space missions still needs to be analysed in more detail. A mission to Mars will pose a tremendous strain on both the human body and mind. The first missions are likely to only be with a crew of about 6 people, which means that they will need to be able to survive in the extreme conditions of these missions for even several years in such a small group. They will also need to be able to live and work with only a limited amount of water, food, electricity and other essential resources. Moreover, there will be a communication delay between Earth and Mars, sometimes causing a delay of more than 20 minutes one way. This means that even in  a crisis situation, the marsonauts would not be able to get an answer back from Earth for more than 40 minutes of making contact with Earth. Most of these things can be imitated during simulated missions to Mars, which is why it is important to test all of these difficult constraints on crews of analogue astronauts.