Mars, commonly referred to as the Red Planet, has been one of the most intriguing celestial bodies since humanity began exploring the depths of space. Considering its potential for colonization, numerous countries have conducted exploratory missions to Mars, and these efforts continue to accelerate. This study examines the historical development of Mars missions, ongoing projects, and planned future missions, while evaluating their scientific and societal impacts. Mars mission types are classified and analyzed, and past Mars programs are examined in 20-year intervals. The evolution of Mars missions is explained in detail, and the distribution of programs by country and by success rate is presented. In this context, it is observed that the United States accounts for the largest share of conducted programs, with 46.3% of the total. Furthermore, approximately 48% of all programs are found to be associated with the space race during the Cold War period. The study demonstrates that Mars missions are significant not only for planetary exploration but also for their interactions with various engineering and scientific disciplines, supported by representative mission examples. The Mars-themed film industry is also analyzed, revealing that the increase in the number of Mars missions generally corresponds with an increase in film production. However, a decline in the number of films is associated with early mission findings indicating the absence of life on Mars. Finally, humanity’s objective of Mars colonization is evaluated within the context of space tourism. In this regard, Mars research generates long-term impacts in terms of both scientific advancement and societal awareness.
Sırça et al. (Tue,) studied this question.