What Should Astronauts Do First When They Reach Mars? - Science Friday Recap

Podcast: Science Friday

Published: 2026-01-06

Duration: 18 minutes

Guests: Dr. Lindy Elkins-Tanton

Summary

The main objective for astronauts landing on Mars is to search for life, with the mission involving both humans and robotic agents to maximize effectiveness.

What Happened

The episode begins with a discussion on the top priority for a human mission to Mars: searching for life. Dr. Lindy Elkins-Tanton, a planetary scientist, explains that while this is the primary goal, other objectives are also important and must be prioritized by NASA. She emphasizes the monumental nature of humans landing on Mars, marking it as a significant moment in human history.

Dr. Elkins-Tanton describes the potential mission structure, involving either short stays of 30 to 90 Mars days or longer ones of 300 to 500 days. The missions will likely consist of three campaigns, starting with a 30-day stay to ensure systems work, followed by additional missions that build upon each other. The missions will involve both humans and robots, as humans are better at making agile decisions and repairs in unexpected situations.

The conversation shifts to the Psyche mission, which Dr. Elkins-Tanton leads. The mission aims to explore the asteroid Psyche, believed to have a metal surface, which could be the core of an ancient planetesimal. This mission is driven by the curiosity to understand the building blocks of rocky planets and how the Earth's core, which influences its magnetic field and habitability, functions.

Dr. Elkins-Tanton shares insights into managing a large team for the Psyche mission, highlighting the importance of open communication and the need for all team members, regardless of hierarchy, to bring up issues early. She recounts a significant setback when the mission had to delay its launch from 2022 to 2023 due to unaddressed concerns with the flight software.

Dr. Elkins-Tanton also discusses her upcoming book on building effective teams, emphasizing the importance of respecting each team member's expertise and fostering an environment where all voices are heard. This approach, she believes, leads to better project outcomes and individual satisfaction.

The episode concludes with Dr. Elkins-Tanton reflecting on the purpose of science, viewing it as a tool for understanding the world around us. She notes that science is about incremental steps towards truth rather than absolute answers, allowing humanity to progress through continuous learning and adaptation.

Key Insights

• Human missions to Mars are planned to involve both short stays of 30 to 90 Mars days and longer stays of 300 to 500 days, with initial missions focused on testing systems and subsequent missions building on previous ones.
• The Psyche mission aims to explore the asteroid Psyche, which is believed to have a metal surface and could be the core of an ancient planetesimal, providing insights into the building blocks of rocky planets.
• Effective team management in large scientific missions involves open communication and encouraging team members at all levels to voice concerns early, as demonstrated by the Psyche mission's delay due to unaddressed software issues.
• Science is viewed as a tool for understanding the world through incremental steps toward truth, rather than providing absolute answers, which allows for continuous learning and adaptation.