As time passes, many exploration bases will be added; however, the question of determining
which of the base regions is the best location to build an actual Mars settlement will
exist. Ideally, this "chosen" base region will be situated above a
geothermally heated subsurface reservoir, which will afford the base an abundant supply of
hot water and electric power. With the onset of this, each additional habitat will
land at the same site, in essence, a small town will slowly be created. This town
will be relatively easy to form considering the astronaut aspect. The high cost of
transportation between Mars and Earth will create a strong financial incentive to find
astronauts willing to extend their surface stay beyond the basic one and half year tour of
duty. As the years pass, experience is gained in living on Mars, growing food, and
producing useful materials of all sorts. In addition, the transportation costs to
Mars will steadily decrease, driven down by new technologies and competitive bids from
contractors offering to deliver cargo to support the base. Concerning the power
supply problem; well, it will not exist. Photovoltaic panels and windmills
manufactured at the small town will take care of the power supply. In addition,
inflatable plastic structures will multiply the town's pressurized living space. Due
to this, the population will increase manifold with the birth of children. In
essence, the spawn of a new branch of human civilization.
The possibility exists that one day millions of people will call Mars home. This feat, the transformation of Mars from a lifeless planet to a living, breathing world supporting multitudes of diverse and novel ecologies and life forms, will be one of the noblest and greatest enterprises of the human spirit.