A Mars base could be the key to making Mars part of humanity's future. Explorers at a base could explore Mars for years or even decades. This is significant because while Mars has only half Earth's diameter, it has as much surface area to explore as Earth has land area. A Mars base might also serve as a stepping-stone to a permanent Mars settlement. Mars is a desirable settlement target because it is the planet in the solar system most like Earth.

Types of Bases

The form that the first Mars base will take will depend on its ultimate purpose. If established only for brief use with specific objectives in mind, it might resemble a temporary base camp set up to scale Mt. Everest. Alternatively, it might be established for long-term scientific exploration, like McMurdo Base in Antarctica. A base might also be intended as a...