Today, Explained: "Going to Mars"

Release Date: August 8, 2025
Hosts: Sean Rameswaram and Noel King
Producer: Vox Media Podcast Network

Introduction

In the "Going to Mars" episode of Today, Explained, hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King delve into the multifaceted topic of humanity's ambition to reach and potentially inhabit Mars. The discussion spans current initiatives, historical perspectives, cultural impacts, and the challenges that lie ahead.

The Current Push to Mars

The conversation kicks off with the resurgence of enthusiasm around Mars exploration, particularly under the administration of former President Donald Trump and the influence of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

• Political Momentum:
  Sean Rameswaram highlights, "Mars is definitely on the menu there's more of a push now than there was before to actually give government funding to Mars initiatives to send humans to the red planet." (03:01)

• Trump’s Influence:
  David Barron explains Trump's role, stating, "He was a Mars guy... he had that directive to send people back to the Moon and then potentially onto Mars." (05:00)

• SpaceX’s Ambitions:
  The synergy between Trump's policies and Musk's vision is evident, with Barron noting, "Elon Musk has been pushing the sole purpose of SpaceX to start a human settlement on Mars.” (06:07)

However, these ambitions face significant financial constraints. The proposed NASA budget includes a "24% cut, the most significant in NASA’s history," yet paradoxically offers additional funds for human exploration programs. Barron comments, "A billion dollars is a very, very small investment when it's going to probably be one of the costliest endeavors that humanity ever does." (07:37)

Historical Fascination with Mars

The episode takes listeners back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Mars captivated the public imagination.

• Early Observations and Beliefs:
  Lauren Grush recounts how, in 1877, "Giovanni Schiaparelli made a detailed map of Mars and saw what he thought were oceans and continents, as well as a network of thin, exceptionally straight lines." (16:32)

• Percival Lowell’s Canal Theory:
  Grush explains Lowell’s hypothesis that these lines were "irrigation canals used by Martians to survive on a planet running out of water." (16:25)

• Public and Scientific Debate:
  The astronomical community was divided between the "Canalists" and the "Anti-Canalists," leading to widespread public belief in Martian civilizations until the mid-20th century.

• Cultural Impact:
  Notable figures like Alexander Graham Bell and Nikola Tesla promoted the existence of Martians, embedding the concept deeply into popular culture. Grush notes, "The Martians were just everywhere in popular culture," with mentions in vaudeville, Broadway, and even recordings like "A Signal from Mars." (20:15)

• Decline of the Martian Myth:
  By the 1960s, NASA’s Mariner spacecraft provided close-up images of Mars, dispelling the illusion of canals and intelligent life, revealing a barren world instead.

Cultural and Psychological Implications

Lauren Grush offers insights into why Mars has remained a persistent symbol in human culture and what it represents for our collective psyche.

• Hope and Utopia:
  Grush states, "There is a dream of Mars as this techno utopia, this place that will be better than Earth, that will be more egalitarian." (23:10)

• Cautionary Lessons:
  Reflecting on the early 20th-century Mars craze, Grush warns, "We tend to project onto Mars what we hope is there, not what's really there," emphasizing the importance of realistic aspirations. (24:10)

• Inspiration for Innovation:
  Despite the challenges, the historical enthusiasm for Mars spurred innovations in rocketry and space exploration, a trend that continues today.

Challenges and Future Prospects

The episode addresses the significant hurdles humanity faces in making Mars colonization a reality.

• Financial Constraints:
  With NASA's budget facing substantial cuts, prioritizing human missions over robotic ones poses a dilemma. Barron remarks, "How does that work when it comes to, say, NASA?" (06:46)

• Technological and Logistical Hurdles:
  The complexity and cost of sending humans to Mars remain daunting. As Rameswaram puts it, "Get us to Mars with 24% less of your budget." (07:09)

• Global Competition vs. Collaboration:
  Grush believes competition, particularly with China, might drive the US to prioritize Mars exploration over unified global efforts. She notes, "What will inspire the United States to get to Mars more than anything is competition. It's because the Chinese want to get there." (23:35)

• Public Support and Priorities:
  While there is favorable public opinion towards Mars missions, polls indicate that initiatives like asteroid monitoring take precedence over human colonization efforts. Barron states, "Sending humans back to the moon and onto Mars often is at the bottom of the list in terms of priorities." (10:40)

Conclusion

"Going to Mars" encapsulates the enduring human fascination with the Red Planet, juxtaposed with the practical realities of space exploration. The episode underscores the delicate balance between ambition and feasibility, urging listeners to reflect on whether our dreams of Mars are driven by genuine potential or mere projection of our desires for a better world.

As the hosts tease future discussions, they leave audiences contemplating the next steps in humanity's quest to reach Mars, highlighting that "if we're going to get there, we might as well start now." (24:40)

Key Quotes

• Sean Rameswaram (03:01):
  "Mars is definitely on the menu there's more of a push now than there was before to actually give government funding to Mars initiatives to send humans to the red planet."

• David Barron (05:00):
  "He was a Mars guy... he had that directive to send people back to the Moon and then potentially onto Mars."

• Lauren Grush (16:32):
  "Percival Lowell, who was... venerable author and astronomer, believed the canals were irrigation systems built by Martians."

• David Barron (07:37):
  "A billion dollars is a very, very small investment when it's going to probably be one of the costliest endeavors that humanity ever does."

• Lauren Grush (23:35):
  "What will inspire the United States to get to Mars more than anything is competition. It's because the Chinese want to get there."

Further Reading & Resources

• Lauren Grush's Book:
  The Six: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn of the Century America
  Release Date: August 26th
  Launch Event: Boulder, Colorado Library Party

• Produced by:
  Avishai Artsy, in collaboration with Vox's Future Perfect team
  Edited by: Jolie Myers
  Fact-Checked by: Laura Bullard
  Mixed by: Patrick Boyd

Stay tuned for next week's episode, where Sean and Noel will explore what it will take to make the journey to Mars a reality.