I think it more plausible (certainly more Biblical) that rebellious 'pride' driven power crazed pre-flood humans, w/ near 1000 yr life spans and still in possession of their God-given pristine minds, developed the means to travel to Mars.

Surely fed by the dark leading and 'hidden' information of Satan and his minions.

Was it a criminal attempt to breach God's heavenly realm? Precursor inspiration to the pathetic Babel tower fiasco?

Probably messed things up so bad w/ some other of their 'space shenanigans' they exploded the neighboring planet of which the 'asteroid belt' is the remnant, blowing out Mars' atmosphere, which lopsidedly damaged half the planet more than the other.