/sci/ - Science & Math

>>8005221
>>8005224
>>8005232

Nice fantasy you got there.

More likely, this will be the following setup for just basic Mars operations:

- orbital fuel depot
- orbital station (in the event a craft gets to Mars, but cannot deorbit for some reason)
- orbital radio relays (better than what we have now)
- GPS satellites (enough for both mapping and navigation on the ground)

Then we can begin building things on Mars itself:

- landing/launch pad
- mines (small ones, mind you. Imagine a drone planting demolition explosives. No tunnel boring machines here)
- refineries
- assembly plants

And even then, this is just to build "basic" materials (steel and sulfurcrete among others) so electronics, copper wiring, cameras, and grease (for motors, actuators, hydraulics etc) would still have to be flown in. Pic related is probably one of the single most valuable vehicles NASA will have to get to Mars without breaking. It alone weighs over 120 tons (112 metric tons).

So this is no small deal, one which might only be started by the 2040s or 50s assuming NASA can get enough money for it.