Why Mars though? Why not build a lunar base on the moon? Maybe even a hotel on the moon, I'm sure people will enjoy watching earth from the moon.
I just fail to see this obsession with Mars. We don't even have manned landing on Mars and we are already having questionable stuff like "Mars One"
And finally (one for the conspiracists): nearly 50 years ago we landed on the moon without any of the technology we have today. Why hasn't there been any strides? Shouldn't it be cheaper to go to the Moon vs Mars? Shouldn't it be possible to colonize Moon more easily and faster than Mars?
My understanding is that the Moon has far less useful resources. Sustaining any kind of base or colony on the Moon would require a larger degree of constant imports and may be much harder to sustain.
Another huge factor is the lack of consistent solar power. 14 out of every 28 days have zero solar. Mars doesn't have this problem.
There are other lesser factors as well, off the top of my head: weaker gravity which may affect health, the psychological problems with 2 weeks of solid darkness every month, and less scientifically interesting.
An atmosphere that provides none of the benefits of appropriate pressure, temperature and gas mix but all of the challenges of weather and airborne dust.
The martian atmosphere does have the benefit of having created much less abrasive dust over the years. Moon dust causes much more wear to moving parts. Mars also has accessible carbon, which the moon does not. The martian atmosphere can supply plants with the CO2 they need, enabling agriculture.
I just fail to see this obsession with Mars. We don't even have manned landing on Mars and we are already having questionable stuff like "Mars One"
And finally (one for the conspiracists): nearly 50 years ago we landed on the moon without any of the technology we have today. Why hasn't there been any strides? Shouldn't it be cheaper to go to the Moon vs Mars? Shouldn't it be possible to colonize Moon more easily and faster than Mars?