Mars could be humanity’s next home, but it’s anything but welcoming. With an atmosphere 100 times thinner than Earth’s, breathing is impossible, and night temperatures plunge to -80°F (-62°C). On top of that, deadly radiation constantly bombards the surface.

Yet, NASA and SpaceX are in a race to make Martian settlement a reality. If humans ever become an interplanetary species, Mars will be our first step toward the stars. Would you take the journey?