Ever since Apollo 11 landed on the moon in the summer of 1969, mankind has pondered the further possibility of space exploration, and perhaps even eventual colonization. There are seven other planets in our solar system (sorry, Pluto), but for the time being, Mars is the only legitimate prospect for future human habitation.
According to NASA, humans will one day live on Mars, and that day might even be sooner than you’d expect. Mars has many similarities to Earth, including the length of a solar day, the amount of surface area to inhabit, an axial tilt that creates seasons on Mars much the way that Earth’s tilt does, and the existence of water, as was recently discovered.
So, what does this mean for the prospect of developing real estate on Mars?
For starters, you probably aren’t going to be able to build your conventional single-family ranch-style house up there. Life on Mars would require the development and construction of “habitats.” These habitats would have to account for the change in atmospheric pressure to allow for human survival, in addition to dust management systems (the dust situation on Mars is extreme), and water-processing systems to assure humans’ need for hydration is met.
How about the materials to construct the habitats?
According to STRUCTURE Magazine (a magazine for structural engineers), the cost to transport a single brick to Mars with our current technology is $2 million, meaning that materials found on Mars are likely to be required. STRUCTURE suggests that regolith, loose sediments that cover solid rock, could be used as a method to protect the habitats from radiation and other elements that could be detrimental to human habitation. Some scientists have suggested that advancements in 3D-printing could lead to more possibilities for infrastructure on Mars.
What about the construction of basic utilities?
And you thought the 5’ utility easement on the corner of your lot was a pain. The conditions of Mars’ environment would present a challenge for maintaining all utility systems, whether the systems be out in the open, contained in a structure, or buried under Mars’ surface. Further, those systems would require a whole new level of expertise to operate beyond what is needed to operate our systems here on Earth. One of the chief considerations for the first development on Mars will be the scale of utilities available and number of people that can be serviced.
As you might imagine, your home on Mars is going to look a lot different than your home on Earth, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of the question. Ultimately, the progress of this idea depends on its necessity, and the advancement of technology. You may not have the opportunity to complete your space house with an outdoor pool and diving board, but the ability for humans to build those structures and inhabit them may be right around the corner.
Until then, you can contact Goosmann Law Firm’s offices in Sioux City, Omaha, and Sioux Falls for all of your real estate law needs here on Earth.
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