A human colony on Mars would need air, water, and protection from the Sun's radiation. It would take more years to send humans there as it will take much preparation. Living on Mars would not be the same as living on Earth, which means that if the Super Bowl LVI is played on the Martian surface, it also would not be the same.
So what would a football match look like on Mars? Is it even possible? United Launch Alliance (ULA) CEO Tory Bruno and NBC sports producer Brad Fosler explain what a football match would look like on the Red Planet.
Yes, It Is Possible to Play Football on Mars
A new video from NBCLX featuring ULA CEO Bruno and Fosler explains what the Super Bowl LVI would look like if held on Mars and not in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Space.com reported.
Bruno said in the video that it is possible for a football match to happen on Mars. But the first obstacle is getting players to the Red Planet must. He explained that it is only possible to send people or missions to Mars once every 26 months when Earth and Mars are just passing each other in orbit.
Additionally, the trip will take around seven months and if ULA's Orion capsule will be used it is going to take 10 trips just for one football team.
Furthermore, the Martian landscape has a lot of flat areas, but they may be a bit more rugged, dry, and dusty than the usual football fields that players are used to playing on Earth. That means they would also need to set up an artificial turf for a football game.
In terms of the best season to play football, Bruno said it would be best to consider the temperatures on the Red Planet given its extreme seasonal variations. Winter on Mars could drop as low as -200 degrees Fahrenheit (-128 degrees Celsius), but summer has an average temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).
Given the temperatures and terrain on the Red Planet, players would need to use different uniforms. They would need to wear spacesuits because the planet has a thinner atmosphere and has 95% more carbon than Earth.
Gravity on Mars
The good news in playing football on Mars is that the planet has reduced gravity, having only about one-third of the Earth, so they would not have to worry about their weight. That means a runner with the same starting velocity and angle would travel three times as far on Mars, according to Wired.
A person who weighs 700 newtons (about 157 pounds-force) on Earth would only weigh 265 newtons on Mars; that is why they would not only feel light but would also run differently. It would be like running as a bunch of tiny jumps since both feet are off the ground simultaneously. In terms of jumping, a person on Mars can jump three times higher than on Earth.
Since Mars has one-third gravity of the Earth, throwing a ball would increase its range by a factor of three. That means throwing it 50 yards would be about 150 yards on Mars.
Below is the full video of Bruno and Fosler explaining how a football match would be possible on Mars:
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Check out more news and information on Mars in Science Times.
