Mars by Numbers

Mars remains humanity's most studied and most desired destination beyond the Moon:

• It lost its magnetic field roughly 4 billion years ago, dooming its atmosphere
• Olympus Mons is the solar system's tallest volcano at 21.9 km
• Valles Marineris could stretch across the entire United States
• Evidence of ancient water includes river deltas, rounded pebbles, and hydrated minerals
• A Martian day, or sol, is 24 hours and 39 minutes — remarkably close to Earth's

Mars is not just a science target. It is the most realistic candidate for humanity's first off-world settlement, and every mission there brings that possibility closer.