Recently, NASA has announced more steps to their journey to Mars. While Mars is a long distance away, today NASA is closer than they ever have been to sending astronauts to Mars. There are three incredibly challenging things astronauts would have to do to get to Mars, the red planet.
Earth Reliant: If Mars is proven safe for us humans to go. Scientists are still figuring out how our human body adapts to space. Using advanced and modern technology, including 3D printers scientist will eventually figure this out.
Proving Grounds: Astronauts will conduct series of tests into deep space. This step includes the EM-1 exploration mission which will be conducted in 2018. As well, as a test when astronauts will take a huge boulder from an asteroid and transfer it back to proving grounds for more research. This is called the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission which will most likely take place in 2020.
Earth Independent: This is the last stage. This step is after the two previous steps. After NASA get to know Mars a bit better they will harvest food, building materials, and oxygen. This will only happen once they reach the Martian surface. NASA would also like to install a high tech communication system which will allow data and science experiments from mars back to earth within 20 mins daily.
It has not come to an exact year when astronauts will land on Mars. However, NASA will find its way through and go to Mars sooner than we think.