Moderation note: the first 2 posts of this thread were moved from the thread “Terraforming Mars” because they are about colonizing, not terraforming, Mars.
OK,
If I were to be given the task of colonizing Mars with the facilities and technologies of today I think it would go something like this, (with acknowledgement to Bob Newhart)...
I would plan the building of a shaft sunk into the ground at such a shallow angle below the horizon, and continue this shaft until it re-emerged that at it's deepest point the collected atmosphere within the tunnel would be close to 1 earth atmosphere.
At this depth a large cavern could be excavated to house the neccessary life support systems for both plant and human habitation, it is probably that the temperature at such a depth may be 'agreeable' though is somewhat speculative, perhaps a compromise between depth and temperature may be required.
At such a depth, isolation from the natural martian atmosphere would not require any difference in pressure thus items such as airlocks would be fairly resistant to leaks, lighter and more econimic.
Humans in this environment would be shielded from the effects of solar radiation, small to medium surface impacts, and cosmic rays. Power could easily be gathered from huge solar arrays adjacent the exits and transmitted to the core area via highvoltage dc transmission system. along the tunnel would be several 'shelters' to accomodate stop offs during the long journey from surface to core. I propose a maglev type transportation system to ferry goods and materials to from the surface. Hopefully mny of the materials needed would be 'mined' along the way, thus an extensive geological survey of the planet would be needed first, this would then determine many of the finer details required. If any of you work for Nasa, and wish to use this idea please acknowledge my being the source.
The only 'fly in the ointment' as it were is this...
I believe (and this is my own theory) that when the core of Mars shrank as it cooled, giant sub-surface fissures were formed, these would have been more than enougth to swallow all of the water on the planet's surface if, that quantity of water to the total mass of the planet was equivalent to earth. I believe that this is an ongoing process and accounts for the occasional 'oozing' to the surface of liquid mud (as seismic activity continues).
