Earth’s First Martian Passengers
We’re not going alone when we finally set up shop on Mars. Humans have a long history of bringing animal companions wherever we explore, whether dogs on sledding expeditions, cats on sailing ships, or even mice on the International Space Station. But which creatures could become the first Martian pioneers alongside us? It turns out that choosing the right animals isn’t just about comfort or cuteness; it’s about survival, science, and building a whole new ecosystem in another world.
Imagine the soft buzz of bees inside a glass greenhouse under the pink skies of Mars. Picture the wag of a dog’s tail inside the first Martian city. Some of the creatures most vital to our future on the Red Planet might be the smallest, humblest Earthlings we’ve always depended on without even realizing it.
Here are eight animals scientists believe might be among the first to set paw, hoof, or wing on Mars, and why they could be more important than we ever imagined.
1. Honeybees
Bees aren’t just agricultural heroes on Earth; they could be critical to survival on Mars. Without pollinators, settlers would struggle to grow essential crops like tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries. While robotic pollinators are in development, nothing rivals bees’ natural efficiency. In 2018, a study by the European Space Agency tested bees in simulated Mars gravity, revealing that bumblebees outperformed honeybees at adapting their flight and pollination behaviors. Specialized greenhouse hives could shield them from Mars’ thin atmosphere and radiation, preserving their role in colony agriculture.
Bees’ symbiotic relationship with crops would help create a closed-loop food system for long-term survival. Scientists envision artificial habitats where bees could operate as they do on Earth, despite the 62% lower gravity. Without them, Martian settlers would be forced into costly and labor-intensive manual pollination, severely limiting their ability to sustain diverse and healthy diets. Source: European Space Agency
2. Mice
Mice have long been space pioneers, riding alongside humans to study the effects of zero gravity, radiation, and confined living. On Mars, where gravity is only about 38% of Earth’s, mice could help researchers track genetic and biological changes over multiple generations. NASA’s Rodent Research missions have already shown that mice raised in microgravity develop muscle adaptations and experience stress responses similar to those of humans. In 2019, a key study found that space-bred mice maintained healthy physical development, suggesting the possibility of long-term mammalian survival beyond Earth.
Mice are ideal models because of their rapid reproductive cycles and well-mapped genomes, allowing scientists to monitor health impacts like bone density loss, reproductive health, and DNA mutations. Understanding these challenges early could inform critical healthcare strategies for future Martian colonists. If something threatens the mice’s health on Mars, humans would almost certainly be next. Source: NASA Rodent Research
3. Chickens
Chickens might seem surprising for Mars, but they offer the efficient, multi-use resource future settlers will need. They can provide a steady supply of protein through eggs and meat if necessary, while also producing compostable waste to enrich agricultural soil. Studies from NASA’s Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) program identified small livestock like chickens as valuable members of closed-loop ecosystems, balancing food production and biological recycling.
Raising chickens would require controlled environments where temperature, gravity, and oxygen levels are carefully maintained, but their relatively small size and high reproductive rates make them adaptable candidates. Chickens are also incredibly resilient and have a calming effect on isolated human communities, an underestimated mental health benefit in a high-stress Martian colony. If managed properly, they could dramatically reduce the need for imported food, one of the biggest hurdles facing permanent human settlement on another planet. Source: NASA CELSS Research
4. Dogs
It’s hard to imagine humans settling a new world without bringing their oldest companions. Beyond offering emotional support, dogs could serve fundamental working roles on Mars. Trained dogs could assist with search and rescue missions in rugged terrain, act as early warning systems for environmental hazards, and even help transport small cargo within habitats. Their proven ability to adapt to extreme conditions, as demonstrated by Laika’s historic spaceflight for the Soviet Union in 1957, suggests dogs could manage life in controlled Martian habitats.
NASA and other space agencies have documented how animal companionship improves psychological resilience among isolated crews. The intense loneliness and stress expected on Mars could be mitigated by the presence of dogs, who instinctively bond with human teams. Their strong sense of smell, pack loyalty, and quick adaptability would make them essential partners, not just pets, on the Red Planet. Source: NASA History of Animals in Space
5. Fish
Aquaponics systems could become the backbone of Martian agriculture, and fish are at the center of those designs. Species like tilapia offer a high-protein food source while producing nutrient-rich waste and fertilizing crops in water-based farming systems. NASA’s experiments with aquaponics have shown that fish and plants can coexist symbiotically in closed-loop habitats, recycling water and nutrients with minimal waste, a critical need when resources on Mars will be limited and precious.
Research from the International Space Station revealed that particular fish, including medaka and zebrafish, can adjust to microgravity surprisingly well, although their schooling and orientation behaviors shift. Understanding and optimizing these adaptations would allow settlers to maintain fresh food supplies while conserving water, which would otherwise be an enormous logistical hurdle. In the future, the first seafood dinners on Mars might owe their success to these hardy, adaptable fish. Source: NASA Space Biology Fish Research
6. Worms
Farming Mars isn’t as simple as planting seeds in red dirt. Martian regolith is dry, sterile, and packed with toxic perchlorates, making it nearly useless for agriculture without intervention. Earthworms could be key players in terraforming greenhouse soils by aerating the substrate, decomposing organic material, and enriching the soil with beneficial microbes. Researchers at Wageningen University demonstrated that adding worms to simulated Martian soil helped improve plant growth dramatically, a crucial breakthrough for future settlers.
Without worms to process organic waste and rejuvenate the soil, Martian agriculture would rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and artificial systems. Earthworms quietly drive entire ecosystems on Earth, and their role on Mars could be just as essential. Over time, their work could transform dead regolith into living, fertile growing beds, a small but vital step toward creating a truly sustainable extraterrestrial habitat. Research: Wageningen University studies on simulated Mars soil.
7. Tardigrades
When it comes to survival under extreme conditions, nothing beats the tardigrade. These microscopic “water bears” have withstood exposure to space, lethal doses of radiation, desiccation, and temperatures ranging from near absolute zero to boiling. In 2007, the European Space Agency launched tardigrades into open space during the FOTON-M3 mission—and many survived with minimal DNA damage, making them the first known animals to survive direct exposure to outer space.
Scientists believe tardigrades could serve as living models to study biological resilience and radiation adaptation. Their unique proteins, like Dsup (damage suppressor protein), have already been studied for potential human applications, including enhancing cellular resistance to DNA damage. On Mars, tardigrades might be used to pioneer experiments in microbial terraforming or bioengineering protective traits into other life forms. In this future, the toughest creatures on Earth will help us conquer an alien world—research: European Space Agency FOTON-M3 mission.
8. Ants
It turns out even ants could have a mission on Mars. These master builders are experts at managing limited resources, organizing colony structures, and aerating soil systems. NASA experiments aboard the International Space Station showed that ants adjust their cooperative behavior and problem-solving tactics even under microgravity, suggesting they could adapt to Martian conditions with the right support systems in place.
By studying ants in closed habitats, scientists can learn more about self-organizing, efficient ecosystems—knowledge crucial for designing sustainable Martian colonies. Ants could also help manage waste decomposition and soil aeration in greenhouse systems, playing a quiet but critical role in maintaining life-supporting ecosystems. If Mars ever buzzes with activity, it might not just be the humans and robots we expect, but also legions of tiny, tireless workers helping to build a brand-new world—research: NASA and ISS ant behavior experiments.
Tiny Steps, Giant Leaps
The first steps on Mars won’t just belong to astronauts. They’ll belong to tiny paws, wings, fins, and six-legged engineers. If we ever hope to build a real second Earth, it might take every living thing we’ve loved to get there. And if you think bees, worms, and ants are surprising choices, wait. Scientists are already dreaming about even stranger companions for humanity’s next giant leap.
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