Mars to Stay
One-way Mars missions to establish permanent human settlement.
Mars to Stay is a mission architecture concept proposing that the first astronauts sent to Mars should intend to remain there permanently, recycling unused emergency return vehicles into settlement construction once the planet's habitability becomes evident. The approach is advocated both to reduce mission cost and to ensure the permanent settlement of Mars, with notable support from former Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin and various advocacy groups.
- Field
- Space exploration mission architecture
- Known for
- Proposing one-way human missions to establish permanent Martian settlement
- Notable advocate
- Buzz Aldrin
- Earliest formal outline
- 1996, Case for Mars VI Workshop by George Herbert
Lore & Background
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'. Space activist Bruce Mackenzie proposed a one-way trip to Mars in a 1998 presentation, arguing that eliminating the return requirement reduces difficulty and expense, making settlement the logical first mission. Paul Davies made similar arguments in The New York Times in 2004, envisioning an initial colony of four astronauts equipped with a small nuclear reactor and rovers, sustaining themselves using local resources.
Reader's Guide
Mars to Stay represents a fundamental shift in human space exploration philosophy, prioritizing permanent settlement over temporary visits. By eliminating the need for a return journey, the concept dramatically reduces mission complexity, cost, and risk, making Mars colonization more feasible. The approach has been championed by figures like Buzz Aldrin, who argued that humanity should become a 'two-planet species'. Advocacy groups such as The Mars Underground, Mars Homestead Project, and Mars Artists Community have adopted Mars to Stay policy initiatives. The concept's legacy includes influencing public discourse on space settlement and inspiring private ventures like Mars One, though that project ended in bankruptcy. The idea remains controversial, with debates over the ethics of one-way missions and the psychological challenges of permanent isolation. Nonetheless, Mars to Stay continues to shape long-term planning for human expansion beyond Earth, emphasizing that the first footprints on Mars should be the start of a permanent human presence.
Did You Know?
- Buzz Aldrin promoted a 'master plan' in August 2015, in association with the Florida Institute of Technology, for a ten-year tour of duty to colonize Mars before 2040.
- Mars One, a private project proposing one-way settlement, was declared bankrupt by a Swiss court on January 15, 2019, after being criticized as a 'scam' and 'delusional'.
- Under Aldrin's proposal, first-generation settlers would be offered a 10-year tour of duty with the option to return to Earth or stay on Mars.
More in Exploration of Mars 1-24
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