The dream of sending humans to Mars has been tantalisingly close for decades, but despite numerous plans and promises, no one has yet set foot on the Red Planet. Today marks the 50th anniversary of Viking 1's historic landing on July 20, 1976 – a milestone that sparked ambitious visions for human settlement and commercial ventures.
According to Harry W. Jones of NASA Ames Research Centre, the main reasons for the delay are not technological hurdles but rather financial constraints. Jones points out that there are no 'showstoppers' in terms of science or technology, with viable solutions existing today for issues such as radiation exposure and reduced gravity.
Rainer Zitelmann, author of 'New Space Capitalism', disagrees, citing the need for substantial private investment to establish even a small city on Mars. He argues that private property rights are essential for attracting the necessary capital, drawing parallels with economic systems on Earth where entrepreneurship is key.
Elon Musk's SpaceX is leading the charge towards Mars colonisation with its Starship programme, aiming to launch 1,000 rockets each carrying 100 colonists over ten launch windows. Robert Zubrin of the Mars Society estimates that 50,000 settlers could be established on the planet within a century.
A YouGov poll in June 2025 showed that two-thirds (65%) of US respondents support sending astronauts to Mars – a clear indication of public interest and backing for such ventures. With technological advancements and private enterprise driving the push towards human exploration, it seems possible that the next half-century could see humanity finally set foot on Mars.