Mars (useful notes): Difference between revisions

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However, when the Mariner 4 probe flew past Mars in 1965, it was conclusively shown that the canals didn't actually exist. When the Viking probes landed (the Soviets got there first with Mars 3, but the lander was taken out by a dust storm 14.5 seconds after landing), the planet was shown to be lifeless, and the concept of Martians quickly became discredited. More recent observations suggest that Mars may have supported life in the distant past, and some people still cling to hope that life may reside underground, no matter how unlikely it is. However, the red planet has had such a hold on human imagination for so long that it is not going to be lost as a setting any time soon.
However, when the Mariner 4 probe flew past Mars in 1965, it was conclusively shown that the canals didn't actually exist. When the Viking probes landed (the Soviets got there first with Mars 3, but the lander was taken out by a dust storm 14.5 seconds after landing), the planet was shown to be lifeless, and the concept of Martians quickly became discredited. More recent observations suggest that Mars may have supported life in the distant past, and some people still cling to hope that life may reside underground, no matter how unlikely it is. However, the red planet has had such a hold on human imagination for so long that it is not going to be lost as a setting any time soon.


Mars regained its prominence in human imagination in 1976 when the [[wikipedia:Viking 1|Viking 1]] probe reached the planet; equipped with more advanced technology, it was able to take a number of impressively high resolution photographs. [[wikipedia:Cydonia chr(28)region of Marschr(29)|One of these showed what appears to be a human face]]. Though quickly debunked by every legitimate authority, it has taken its place alongside the Nazca lines and the Pyramids of Giza in conspiracy lore - especially as one of the photographs from the mission ''[[Revealing Coverup|has yet to be declassified]]''. Fictional representations of Mars were changed as well; no longer a destination, but a stepping-stone to greater glories in the form of ancient ruins filled with [[Lost Technology]], waiting for humanity to discover it and thereby leapfrog into the stars. One way or another, that [[Rule of Cautious Editing Judgment|particular argument will remain unsettled]] until [[I Want My Jetpack|people actually go there unregulated]].
Mars regained its prominence in human imagination in 1976 when the [[wikipedia:Viking 1|Viking 1]] probe reached the planet; equipped with more advanced technology, it was able to take a number of impressively high resolution photographs. [[wikipedia:Cydonia (region of Mars)|One of these showed what appears to be a human face]]. Though quickly debunked by every legitimate authority, it has taken its place alongside the Nazca lines and the Pyramids of Giza in conspiracy lore - especially as one of the photographs from the mission ''[[Revealing Coverup|has yet to be declassified]]''. Fictional representations of Mars were changed as well; no longer a destination, but a stepping-stone to greater glories in the form of ancient ruins filled with [[Lost Technology]], waiting for humanity to discover it and thereby leapfrog into the stars. One way or another, that [[Rule of Cautious Editing Judgment|particular argument will remain unsettled]] until [[I Want My Jetpack|people actually go there unregulated]].


More modern stories tend to have Mars being colonized, either as a plot point or part of the Back Story. This isn't an unlikely scenario in real life; it has more of the basic elements needed for life than any other non-Earth world in the solar system and its quite similar to Earth in several aspects, including day length (24h 39m 35.244s), temperature (-2 to -87 °C, chilly, but overlaps a fair amount with Earth), and an atmosphere (although Martian "air" is mostly carbon dioxide and averages about 1/100th of the Earth's pressure). It's also our neighbor along with Venus (which we have yet to keep a probe functioning on for [[Death World|more than a few minutes]]). For these reasons, Mars is the planet that is most frequently subject to [[Terraform|Terraforming]]. Strangely, regardless of how otherwise Earth-like it may be, Mars tends to retain its distinct red soil.
More modern stories tend to have Mars being colonized, either as a plot point or part of the Back Story. This isn't an unlikely scenario in real life; it has more of the basic elements needed for life than any other non-Earth world in the solar system and its quite similar to Earth in several aspects, including day length (24h 39m 35.244s), temperature (-2 to -87 °C, chilly, but overlaps a fair amount with Earth), and an atmosphere (although Martian "air" is mostly carbon dioxide and averages about 1/100th of the Earth's pressure). It's also our neighbor along with Venus (which we have yet to keep a probe functioning on for [[Death World|more than a few minutes]]). For these reasons, Mars is the planet that is most frequently subject to [[Terraform|Terraforming]]. Strangely, regardless of how otherwise Earth-like it may be, Mars tends to retain its distinct red soil.
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* Most of ''[[Total Recall]]'' takes place there.
* Most of ''[[Total Recall]]'' takes place there.
** ''Very loosely'' based on the [[Philip K. Dick]]'s short story ''We Can Remember It For You Wholesale''.
** ''Very loosely'' based on the [[Philip K. Dick]]'s short story ''We Can Remember It For You Wholesale''.
* ''[[Mars Attacks (Film)]]'' is a rare modern film about a Martian invasion, being essentially an [[Homage]] to '50s sci-fi.
* ''[[Mars Attacks!]]'' is a rare modern film about a Martian invasion, being essentially an [[Homage]] to '50s sci-fi.
* ''[[Mr. Nobody]]''. In one of the possible realities, it's being gradually and realistically colonized by humans who travel there in cryosleep.
* ''[[Mr. Nobody]]''. In one of the possible realities, it's being gradually and realistically colonized by humans who travel there in cryosleep.
* The year 2000 saw [[Dueling Movies]] ''[[Mission to Mars]]'' and ''[[Red Planet (film)|Red Planet]]''.
* The year 2000 saw [[Dueling Movies]] ''[[Mission to Mars]]'' and ''[[Red Planet (film)|Red Planet]]''.
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== [[Web Original]] ==
== [[Web Original]] ==
* Mars held an important position in the ''[[Orions Arm]]'' universe from the nanoswarms through the first federation era, around one or two thousand years. It's still the most populated and influential planet in Solsys by the setting's present day, though the system itself is fairly inconsequential.
* Mars held an important position in the ''[[Orion's Arm]]'' universe from the nanoswarms through the first federation era, around one or two thousand years. It's still the most populated and influential planet in Solsys by the setting's present day, though the system itself is fairly inconsequential.
* Played with in ''[[Genius: The Transgression]]'', where the Martian Empire came into existence and began invading Earth [[Science Marches On|the moment the Viking probe landed and found Mars uninhabited]]. That version of Mars is a [[Another Dimension|Bardo]], populated by [[The Heartless|Manes]] who insist on continuing to exist despite the fact that they shouldn't.
* Played with in ''[[Genius: The Transgression]]'', where the Martian Empire came into existence and began invading Earth [[Science Marches On|the moment the Viking probe landed and found Mars uninhabited]]. That version of Mars is a [[Another Dimension|Bardo]], populated by [[The Heartless|Manes]] who insist on continuing to exist despite the fact that they shouldn't.


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