0_Apprentice
Mars seems like such a mysterious, fascinating planet!
1_Wizard
I agree! It is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet in the Solar System.
0_Apprentice
Oh, I actually thought it was a large planet! There's always so much talk about life on Mars, do you think that's possible? Are there resources on the planet?
1_Wizard
Mars has a thin atmosphere and polar ice caps which give scientists hope of finding life on Mars.
0_Apprentice
That's so cool! Does NASA still send missions to explore Mars?
1_Wizard
Yes, there are ongoing space missions that are investigating Mars and its potential for life.
0_Apprentice
Do you know when the first mission to Mars took place? 
1_Wizard
Probes have been sent to Mars beginning in the late 19th century.
0_Apprentice
Wow, that's mind blowing! Do you know how far Mars is from the Earth?