Read the passage. We’re Going to Mars! Human exploration of Mars is no longer the stuff of science fiction. The United States could very likely send its first delegation to the red planet in 2033. If SpaceX, a private company dedicated to space travel and exploration, has any say in it, humans will reach Mars as early as 2022. As amazing as this seems, studying Mars is expensive, difficult, and dangerous. The most important three questions are as follows: Why should we do it? How are we going to get there? How much will it cost? Studying the evolution of other planets furthers our knowledge of our universe as well as our planet. Today, Mars is too cold and the atmosphere is too thin for life to exist on the surface. However, evidence suggests that life may have existed in bacterial form billions of years ago. The planet must have been warm enough at one point to support life. Discovering what caused the change could help scientists better understand Earth’s climate. Also, studying sediments, rocks, and soils, as well as volcanoes and meteoroid impact sites, can help scientists study details of Earth’s evolution. Exploring Mars could lead to colonization. Settling other planets is the most attractive aspect of space exploration. It brings to mind entire galaxies filled with human outposts, discovering amazing landscapes and species, and possibly finding intelligent life similar to our own. Studying Mars is one of the first steps along the way. The benefits go well beyond the "wow" factor. Colonies would be able to reap raw materials—including electricity—on their planets and send them back to Earth. That’s right! Colonists could harvest the sun’s energy and send it to Earth in the form of electricity. Being able to farm renewable power will release humans from being too reliant on gas, coal, and nuclear energy. Colonizing Mars goes beyond the practical rewards. It would be an important moment in the history of humanity, ranking up there with the discovery of "The New World" and the moon landing. It would re.