Space legend Buzz Aldrin calls for ‘great migration of humans to MARS’ – or we’ll all die off
It's time to colonise Mars, according to the second man on the Moon
SPACE hero Buzz Aldrin has called on the world to "focus on the great migration of humankind to Mars".
Aldrin, who was the second human to walk on the Moon, warned that failing to do so could mean the end for humanity.
The legendary astronaut said it's "high time we returned" to the lunar surface – and go even further beyond, to Mars.
"Another looming orb – the red one – should become a serious focus of US attention," Aldrin wrote in the .
"Mars is waiting to be discovered, not by clever robots and rovers...but by living, breathing, walking, talking, caring and daring men and women.";
He added that he didn't mean spending money of "a few hijinks or joy rides", but preparing for full-scale colonisation of the red planet.
In particular, he urged the USA to "focus on opening the door, in our time, to the great migration of humankind to Mars".
He claimed that there wasn't a detailed architecture for the "next step" into the future.
Aldrin said the first step would be to "establish permanent settlements on the Moon" – and added that the USA is best poised to make these steps.
"The Trump administration and this Congress would be remembered decades forward for putting humans permanently on the Moon and Americans on Mars – for making human footprints in red dust and subsequent migration possible," he said.
"Human nature – and potentially the ultimate survival of our species – demands humanity's continued outward reach into the universe.
"Call it curiosity or calculation, strategic planning or destiny.
"Put simply: We explore, or we expire. That is why we must get on with it."
Apollo 11 mission – the key facts
Here's what you need to know...
- Apollo 11 is the name for the mission that landed the first two people on the Moon
- The spaceflight was manned by Command Neil Armstrong and lunar module pilot Buzz Aldrin, both Americans
- They landed the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969 and 8.17pm UTC
- Armstrong became the first person to set food on the lunar surface six hours later
- He was then joined by Aldrin a further 19 minutes later
- The pair spent roughly two hours and 15 minutes together outside the spacecraft, collecting lunar material to bring back to Earth
- And in total, they spent 21.5 hours on the lunar surface before rejoining the command module Columbia in lunar orbit
- Armstrong's first step onto the lunar surface was broadcast live on TV to the world
- He famously described the moment as "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"
Aldrin, 89, is an icon in the world of space, having served a distinguished career as an astronaut, engineer and fighter pilot.
His most famous achievement was serving alongside Neil Armstrong on the Apollo 11 mission that saw the pair become the first people to set foot on the Moon.
And he may still see humans on Mars in his lifetime: Nasa plans for a crewed mission to Mars to take place as soon as 2024.
MOST READ IN SCIENCE
Nasa already has a presence on Mars in the form of robots: check out these images of a Martian sunrise and sunset from the InSight lander.
Scientists recently admitted that there is a "very good chance" of finding alien life on Mars.
And Nasa is already mulling designs for the homes humans will live in on Mars.
Do you think we'll all eventually move to Mars? Let us know in the comments!
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.