How will that first city on Mars be built

 

Building the first city on Mars involves overcoming immense logistical, environmental, and technological challenges. Here's an overview based on current plans and concepts:

Site Selection

• Location: Ideal sites are near the Martian equator where solar energy is plentiful, or in areas like the Hellas Planitia basin where water ice might be more accessible. Sites like Tempe Mensa have been proposed for their cliff formations which can provide natural shielding from radiation.

Construction Materials

• In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): Mars doesn't have readily available building materials, so the plan is to use Martian resources. This includes extracting water from ice to produce hydrogen and oxygen, using carbon dioxide for creating carbon nanotubes or graphene, and using Martian regolith for 3D printing structures.

  
  

• Imported Materials: Initially, some materials will be brought from Earth, but the aim is sustainability, reducing dependency on Earth over time.

Structural Design

• Underground or Enclosed: To protect from radiation, temperature extremes, and micrometeorites, structures would likely be built underground, into cliffs, or within large, domed habitats. Vertical city designs have been proposed to manage space and atmospheric pressure differences.

  
  

  
  

Modular and Expandable: Initial habitats would be modular, allowing for expansion as the colony grows. Concepts like "macro-buildings" linked by tunnels and elevators have been discussed for scalability.

Life Support Systems

• Atmosphere: Creating or maintaining a breathable atmosphere involves sealing habitats and using plants or algae for oxygen production.

Water and Food: Recycling systems would be crucial for water. Food would initially come from Earth, transitioning to local hydroponics, aeroponics, or soil-based agriculture using Martian soil enriched with nutrients.

Energy

• Solar Power: Given Mars' distance from the sun, solar panels would be more effective closer to the equator.
• Nuclear Power: For more consistent power, especially during Martian dust storms, small nuclear reactors might be utilized.

Transportation and Infrastructure

• Transport: High-speed elevators for vertical movement within cities, and possibly a hyperloop or similar system for inter-city travel on the surface.

Communication: Satellite relays would maintain communication with Earth, overcoming the delay caused by distance.

Governance and Economy

• Government: Discussions range from direct democracy to forms that might evolve due to the unique challenges of space living, possibly becoming more authoritarian due to the controlled environment.

Economy: It would start with a barter or credit system, potentially moving towards currency as the population grows. The economy might rely on intellectual property, asteroid mining, and tourism from Earth.

Timeline

• Construction: Proposals suggest starting construction by around 2054 with the first inhabitants possibly arriving by 2100, although these dates are speculative and depend on technological advancements and funding.

  
  

Challenges

• Radiation and Gravity: Long-term human health in lower gravity and high radiation needs to be managed.
• Psychological Effects: Isolation, confinement, and the harsh environment could affect mental health.

The actual construction of a Martian city would be a collaborative effort involving private companies like SpaceX, government space agencies like NASA, and possibly international agreements similar to the current space treaties. The vision includes making Mars a self-sustaining environment where humanity could continue even if Earth becomes uninhabitable, driven by the ambition to make humans a multi-planetary species. However, all these plans hinge on overcoming significant scientific, engineering, and political obstacles.