NASA plans to send humans on Mars by 2033 and the path to the Red Planet may go through its tiny moon Phobos.

Conceding that NASA receives the necessary funding and makes the technological advances in space travel, the first humans could land on Phobos, the Red Planet's moon by 2033, and on the Martian surface by 2039, according to The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

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NASA scientists are apparently not counting on another "John F. Kennedy moment," which occurred back in 1961 when the president called to land people on the moon. This boosted its budget, reaching 4.5 percent share of federal budget during the pinnacle of the Apollo years.

That said, currently it is less than 0.5 percent and NASA is all set to take things slowly by anticipating various mission that will guarantee safe landing on Phobos by 2033, and on Mars after that, according to records on Space.com.

"Landing on Mars isn't just a pipe dream. It's achievable," Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator said.

According to Bolden, Mars matters to humanity and the quest of human progress. In 2016, NASA will launch ExoMars orbiter developed to circle Mars, and there are plans to launch another Mars rover in 2018. Bolden said although robots are suited for preparation and preliminary date, humans are needed on the Martian surface.

The march to Mars is already started, as rovers Curiosity and Opportunity continue to roam the surface and send back important data, photos along with other information about the Red Planet. According to records on Science Times, recent data collected by the rovers hint that Mars could have once supported microbial life.

Another study that boosts the hope of humans surviving on Mars was conducted by a team of scientists spearheaded by NASA's Geronimo Villanueava of the Goddard Space Flight Center. According to the study, the Red Planet had an ocean covering 19 percent of its surface 4 billion years ago.

NASA's technology that's already under development such as Space Launch System (SLS) megarockets and Orion crew capsule are factors on which landing on Phobos will rely on. 

TagsMars, Phobos, NASA, The Red Planet, Man on Mars, Martian Surface