A second is shorter on Mars than on Earth. Explorers of the Red Planet will experience a fascinating phenomenon: time dilation, albeit very minimal.
Time dilation is not science fiction, but scientific reality. It is a concept of Einstein’s special and general relativity. Simply puttime does not flow the same for everyone. It depends on the speed and gravity one is exposed to.
On Earth, we already experience this dilation, even if it is slight. For example, our feet age more slowly than our head. Reason? They are closer to the Earth’s center of gravity. This difference is slight, but it illustrates the principle.
The effect is most noticeable in astronauts in space. For example, aboard the International Space Station, they live in a reduced gravity environment. In addition, its speed relative to the Earth affects the passage of time.
An 80-year life on Mars would be 12 seconds shorter than on Earth
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So time dilation for astronauts is tugged between gravity and speed. The lower gravity in space would mean a faster time, but the high cruise speed makes up for it. The result is an imperceptible path to the future.
Now a mission to Mars will amplify these effects. The 21-month length of the voyage is expected to cause even more significant time dilation. However, compared to the speed of light, where time dilation is extreme, this will still be a minimal effect.
A long stay on Mars provides another nuance. According to IflScience, An 80-year lifespan on Mars could be shortened by about 12 seconds compared to Earth. It seems insignificant from our earthly perspective. But in the grand scheme of the universe, this is an example of how space and time are intrinsically linked.
Be that as it may, the astronauts heading to Mars will not only explore a new world. They will also witness one of the strangest and most fascinating phenomena in the universe: time dilation.
