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The Romans named the planet Mars after their god of war. From the 1960s, the United States and the former Soviet Union spent vast amounts of time and money developing the technology required to be the first to get to Mars.
The atmosphere of Mars is quite different from that of Earth. It is composed primarily of carbon dioxide with small amounts of other gases.
The current understanding of the interior of Mars suggests that it probably features a thin crust, similar to Earth's, alongside a mantle and a core.
Average distance from the Sun: 227,940,000km (141,550,740miles)
Length of year: 686.98 Earth days
Diameter: 6,794 km (4,221.6 miles)
Average temperature: -81°F (-63°C)
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