Colonization of Mars

A rendering of the Interplanetary Transport System approaching Mars, a concept colonyship of the in-development SpaceX Mars Colonization Program

The colonization of Mars is the proposed process of establishing and maintaining control of Martian land for exploitation and the possible settlement of Mars.[1] Most colonization concepts focus on settling, but colonization is a broader ethical concept,[2] which international space law has limited,[3] and national space programs have avoided,[4] instead focusing on human mission to Mars for exploring the planet. Currently there are only proposals for Mars colonization and humans have not set foot on Mars yet.

Settlement of Mars would depend on permanent migration of humans to the planet and the exploitation of local resources. Both are demanding, with large investments needed and people to be ready for life threatening conditions, since the planet is hostile to human life. Its barren surface is subject to intense ionizing radiation and is covered by fine, toxic dust, making the surface more toxic than Earth after a hypothetical nuclear war.[5] Mars has an atmosphere that is unbreathable and thin, with surface temperatures fluctuating between −70 and 0 °C (−94 and 32 °F). While Mars has frozen sub-surface water and other resources, wind and solar conditions are weak for electricity generation, and resources for nuclear power are poor. Mars' orbit is relatively close to Earth's orbit, though far enough from Earth that the distance would present a serious limitation on importing goods and people to travel.

Justifications and motivations for colonizing Mars include technological curiosity, the opportunity to conduct in-depth observational research, the possibility that the settlement of other planets could decrease the probability of human extinction, the interest in establishing a colony independent of Earth and in economic exploitation of its resources.

The prospect of settling Mars has captured the imagination of contemporary space faring societies. Being explored in science fiction writing, film, and art, advocated for by some space advocacy groups, such as the Mars Society or the National Space Society,[6] and pursued by some private organizations (such as by SpaceX). Public space agencies (including NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, ISRO, the CNSA, among others) have explored the concept, but have mainly done work on exploring Mars robotically and possibly crewed.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference h987 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Space Policy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference v667 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference u584 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Guenot, Marianne (March 14, 2024). "Obama takes a shot at the likes of Musk and Bezos, says we must protect Earth before colonizing Mars". Business Insider. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Case for Colonizing Mars, by Robert Zubrin". NSS. August 3, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2024.