Mars to Stay missions propose that astronauts sent to Mars for the first time should intend to remain there. Unused emergency return vehicles would be recycled into settlement construction as soon as the habitability of Mars becomes evident to the initial pioneers. Mars to Stay missions are advocated both to reduce cost and to ensure permanent settlement of Mars. Among many notable Mars to Stay advocates, former Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin has been particularly outspoken, suggesting in numerous forums "Forget the Moon, Let’s Head to Mars!"[1] and, in June 2013, Aldrin promoted a crewed mission "to homestead Mars and become a two-planet species".[2] In August 2015, Aldrin, in association with the Florida Institute of Technology, presented a "master plan", for NASA consideration, for astronauts, with a "tour of duty of ten years", to colonize Mars before the year 2040.[3] The Mars Underground, Mars Homestead Project / Mars Foundation, Mars One (defunct in 2019), and Mars Artists Community advocacy groups and business organizations have also adopted Mars to Stay policy initiatives.[4]
The earliest formal outline of a Mars to Stay mission architecture was given at the Case for Mars VI Workshop in 1996, during a presentation by George Herbert titled "One Way to Mars".[5]
- ^ Strickland, Eliza (26 June 2006). "Buzz Aldrin Speaks Out: Forget the Moon, Let's Head to Mars". Discover Magazine: 80beats blog. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2009.
- ^ Aldrin, Buzz (June 13, 2013). "The Call of Mars". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
- ^ Dunn, Marcia (August 27, 2015). "Buzz Aldrin joins university, forming 'master plan' for Mars". AP News. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
- ^ "Mars Underground" (Five Part Series), YouTube
- ^ ""One Way to Mars," The Case for Mars VI Workshop, 1996". Archived from the original on August 31, 2000. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
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