Since returning astronauts from the surface of Mars is one of the most dangerous parts of a Mars mission, the idea of a one-way trip to the planet has been proposed several times. In 1998, space activist Bruce Mackenzie proposed a one-way trip to Mars, arguing that since the mission could be done with less difficulty and expense if the astronauts weren’t required to return to earth, the first mission to Mars could be a settlement, not a visit. Physicist Paul Davies made similar arguments in 2004, suggesting that an initial colony of 4 astronauts equipped with a small nuclear reactor and a couple of rover vehicles would make their own oxygen, grow food, and even initiate building projects using local raw materials. Supplemented by food shipments, medical supplies, and replacement gadgets from earth, the colony would be indefinitely sustained. In 2013, former Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin promoted a plan that would include a 6-member team to begin a human settlement on Mars, with a new set of 4 astronauts arriving every two years. While zero gravity presents challenges, until humans have lived in Martian gravity conditions, there’s no way to know what awaits the astronauts. So far, there has never been any serious undertaking of sending astronauts to Mars with the idea of leaving them there permanently. Whether technology and advancements make that a viable option in the future remains to be seen.
