STANDING ON MARS
Thin air, low gravity, and a horizon closer than you expect.
A LIGHTER STEP
At the surface you weigh about 38 percent as much as on Earth. The reduced gravity changes every movement, but it does not make Mars safe or effortless to cross.
THIN AIR
The atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide and surface pressure averages less than about one percent of Earth's. An unprotected human could not breathe or survive here; full pressure and life support are essential.
AN ALMOST FAMILIAR DAY
A Martian sol lasts about 24.6 hours. The rhythm feels close to Earth's, but the cold, dryness and changing seasons belong to a different world.
DUST IN MOTION
Winds lift fine dust into local storms and, at times, events that spread across much of the planet. The thin air exerts less force than the same wind speed would on Earth, while dust can linger and reshape visibility.