although I think what you're defining as 'permanent' is one individual remaining for many years, if not a lifetime... I should clarify that... a permanent habitable station... NOT permanent personnel. Think the ISS.

Permanent personnel.. I think that will require terraforming, small scale.. probably in the polar regions for ample supply of water, (maybe).

My personal speculation is that Mars is not the main goal... it will be one of the moons around either Jupiter or Saturn. I think the moon will provide as good of a base, if not better, for further solar system exploration as Mars would... close, less gravity for fuel savings and speed, etc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2021 05:08PM by JamesJM.