[Enterprise Captain]

Anyone planning to apply?

[martok2112]

Sure.
An opportunity to establish new black markets and illicit trades? Criminal organizations?

Where do I sign up?

[NCC-73515]

Planned that since I read about it. My only problem is: Plants only! No meat! No McD!

[horatio]

Originally Posted by NCC-73515

Planned that since I read about it. My only problem is: Plants only! No meat! No McD!

We veggies are gonna rule the red planet and then return in order to turn all you meat-eaters Wells-style into food for ourselves.

Seriously, it is just a matter of efficiency. To quote Elon Musk, one of those young libertarian entrepreneurs (Peter Thiel would be another example) who have been successful with an internet business and wanna retain that innovative spirit via investing their wealth into such "giant leap" projects: "I'm a big fan of free choice for any future Martian colony. That said, it is likely that early Mars colonists would have a mostly vegetable diet, because of the energy and space needed to raise farm animal." (http://digitaljournal.com/article/340919)

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

That is not for me. I would love to go off be a part of a new colony somewhere if it was more habitable, either a planet like Earth or through technology, but the way things are today. No way, Jose.

[Roysten]

Does look very cool, would be amazing if it ever actually happened, I personally don't think it will, I reckon we're looking at at least 30 or 40 years before we really get to Mars.

Anyone read the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson? He effectively covers this exact scenario, the first humans travelling to Mars setting up a permanent colony.

As much as I'd love to go I don't think I could do it, make a nice weekend break though!

[omegaman]

No problems exploring new worlds, but that's a job for the young and fit.

[martok2112]

If I'm not me, then who the hell am I?