We all know Buzz Aldrin is a brave man, but bold may also be suitable word to describe him.

Recently, Aldrin posted a photo to Twitter (Yes, he has one!) depicting him with a “Get Your Ass to Mars” T-shirt in front of the famous Stonehenge. The tweet itself reads, “While at @EH_Stonehenge yesterday I decided to send a message to the cosmos.”

While at @EH_Stonehenge yesterday I decided to send a message to the cosmos. #GYATM (Photo by James O.Davies) pic.twitter.com/ra5Y2OsSPB

Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) March 16, 2015

Aldrin, who was one of the first men to walk on the moon, apparently doesn’t find Mars exploration to be that far-fetched or out of reach. However, this wasn’t the first time that he expressed his support for a trip to Mars. In fact, he wrote an opinion piece for CNN last year that pushed for more space exploration in general.

Other nations, China in particular, are working toward the exploration and development of the moon with robots and, eventually, crews. Providing U.S. support for international lunar development is in our best interest.

Aldrin also stated that America’s longer-term goal should be for permanent human presence on Mars. At the ripe age of 85, there’s a good chance that Aldrin won’t be the one to establish the first Martian city. However, it seems like he would appreciate the opportunity to see if happen within this lifetime.

Who’s On Board?

Mars exploration has been talked about for decades, and as technology has advanced, so has the urgency to explore the Red Planet. Needless to say, Aldrin isn’t the only one who wants to get out there and try something new.

SpaceX is one of the better known initiatives for Mars exploration. Spearheaded by Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, SpaceX is a private spaceflight company being fueled with both money and excitement from other wealthy space enthusiasts. In January 2015, Musk said that he would like to debut a new Mars transport system by the end of the year.

Now the most obvious question is, “Who will be the first one on Mars?”

In general, the idea of Mars exploration spurs a number of questions pertaining to how humans could sustain life on the planet. However, the only one you really need to ask yourself is, “Am I ready to leave my home planet?” Could you realistically say good-bye to not only your friends and family, but all of Earth’s resources that we take for granted?

Start thinking of an answer because the option may not be too far away.

Sources

• Aldrin, Buzz. “Buzz Aldrin: After moon, next stop Mars.” August 25, 2014. CNN.
• Howell, Elizabeth. “SpaceX’s Elon Musk to Reveal Mars Colonization Ideas This Year.” January 9, 2015. Space.com.
• Smith-Spark, Laura. “Buzz Aldrin sends Mars message from Stonehenge.” March 17, 2015. CNN.