If we can go through earth, then why can't we go through Mars?

Question

OK well I was just wondering, you know when objects go out of our planet is has to go through different levels of atmospheres, like a satellite or a space shuttle. Well I always heard little cars or whatever they called we put them on mars and they are to check out if there are living things. Well Those rovers are riding on a red dusts, sort of right? Now is that the land or what? Can you go through it. Like when you see earth you will find green land which you can land on. So on mars the land is red? And did they even go through the atmosphere on mars? Well if you don't understand what I am trying to ask, thats ok, it's just hard for me to explain

Answer 1

mars is more in direct radiation of the sun due to its lack af atmosphere and has deadly gases that would kill us if we inhaled just a few breathes of it and we do not have a craft or suits that can withstand the radiation or heat on that planet

Answer 2

Mars has a much thinner atmosphere than Earth, so it's easier to get through.  Mars is completely covered in dirt, and it's red because of the iron content in the soil... there's pretty much rust everywhere you go, giving it the red tint.

I hope I answered your question.

Answer 3

The surface of Mars is red, the rovers are just trundling about on the soil, I don't think there's anything underneath except rock.

Mars only has a very thin atmosphere due to its low gravity and the effects of 'solar wind'.

Answer 4

All surface missions to Mars have had to descend through its atmosphere. All but one have done so successfully. Once on the surface of Mars, which is mostly rusty red soil and gravel, these various missions have performed very well, including some that have moved around on the surface.

Answer 5

The "land" on earth (solid ground) comes in a startling variety of colors (green grass, brown dirt, tan sand, rocks of various colors, etc).  The other parts of the surface of the earth are water, and while one can float a vessel on water, it's not very easy to drive a rover on.

The surface of Mars is all "land", there are not open bodies of water on Mars, and all the land is pretty uniformly rusty red.  As there is no water, the wheeled rover vehicles can travel essentially unimpeded wherever scientists would like them to (except, of course, over large rocky obstacles or up the side of steep cliffs).

And yes, the Mars rovers were deposited by spaceships that decended through the Martian atmosphere.

Answer 6

Mars has a very thin atmosphere, but it is enough to help slow down a probe with a parachute. It's also enough to blow dust into huge clouds, sometimes. So the probes go thru the atmosphere and the rovers can drive around on the Martian ground. Everywhere they go, the ground is red, like rust.

The latest probe landed at the Martian North Pole to see if the ice there is really water. It is!

The Phoenix page, below, has a kids' section. Check out Steve the cat's trip to Mars.