Mars Colonization

The topic of my research is Mars Colonization. I have been reading articles and books about Mars and its
exploration for the past few years. I'm interested in the raw materials for a civilization that appear to just be lying
there waiting for humans to pick them up and put them together. Similar to adventures of discovery in previous
centuries, a voyage to Mars is the next frontier for mankind's future. I'm anxious to see what may happen in our
lifetimes in the matter of further space exploration.

There is a large amount of overlap in the scope of materials in this field. Mostly because of the lack of
progress towards manned exploration of the planets. However, using Boolean expressions was usually enough to get a
large amount of hits for good websites. Some of the books I had already read. I tried to include a lot of information
that would get an individual interested in this topic.

1. Burger, Christopher. Home page. 7 October, 2000. 9 January, 2002 <http://www.geocities.com/marsterraforming/>

• Content Summary: Contains a nice overview of Mars colonization. Introduces concepts such as terraforming.
  Delves into many basics of the subject.
• Special Features: There is a listing of past unmanned missions. There is also a comparison of statistics
  between Mars and Earth. Includes a convenient link to a Mars web ring.
• Weaknesses: The site is a personal site. The credentials of the author were not listed. Some of the
  links were not correct.
• Recommended Uses: This site is a good beginning piece for a person interested in the basics of Mars
  colonization. It is a catalyst for further study. There are also some great pictures included.

2. Carr, Michael H. Water on Mars. Oxford University Press. November 1995.

• Content Summary: This book is deep. There is a lot of detailed technical information. The focus is on
  the current knowledge of water on Mars which is essential for life. There is a lot of geologic data to support this.
• Special Features: The detail. Reading the book is like taking a mini course in geology. Many terms are
  explained in depth.
• Weaknesses: Some prior knowledge of the subjects is helpful. Some readers may not have the
  commitment to stay with the book through the end because of the detail.
• Recommended Uses: College textbook. Students of geology and prehistory on Earth may find the information
  useful to learn about how life arose on Earth.

3. Fogg, Martyn J. Home page. 6 January, 2002 <http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~mfogg/paper1.htm>

• Content Summary: Great source for very detailed information about terraforming. Interesting because the
  author is from the UK which puts a different point of view on the information. Several references to other works are included.
• Special Features: Graphics of how the greenhouse effect can be used for terraforming. A nice artist's
  rendering of snow on Mars. Another great reference section.
• Weaknesses: Again, mostly text. This page is very scientific. Some UK spellings may bother
  some readers. There was no date updated listed.
• Recommended Uses: More background. A very detailed account of the process to terraform a planet. links
  could be used for further research.

4. Hamilton, Calvin J. Views of the Solar System. 9 January, 2002 <http://www.solarviews.com/eng/mars.htm>

• Content Summary: Another good introduction to Mars. The site includes exploration history and reasons for
  colonization. Many solid academic links are included. The site has also been updated more recently than other sites
  on this subject. This page is part of a larger site dealing with all of the planets in the Solar System.
• Special Features: Many graphics. A useful left pane. Good navigation on the page as well as to other
  links and the rest of this web site.
• Weaknesses: Though necessary, advertisements compete for the viewers attention. The left pane is
  obtrusive if the viewer dislikes them in general. Again there was no date updated.
• Recommended Uses: Pictures are all over this page. The links to other planets provide additional
  background information. This would be great for younger people because of the multitude of graphics. The information is there
  but a scientific degree is not required to understand.

5. Mars Project Home Page. 9 January, 2002. <http://www.marsproject.com/>

• Content Summary: This site is very neat. It uses Shockwave to give a virtual tour of locations on a
  colonized Mars. Details appear to be taken from the Mars Trilogy books. I found this through Yahoo's directory as follows: .
• Special Features: The VR is cool. This gives the viewer a visual cue about what they've been reading.
  The opening page typing is effective.
• Weaknesses: Because of the content, the site could load slowly over a dial-up connection. The
  Shockwave plug-in is required as is Quicktime. Not every browser can use these. No date updated was listed.
• Recommended Uses: A fun way to look at Mars. This breaks up the monotony of al the technical stuff. It
  could also inspire those who want to see these images for real.

6. Moore, Alex. The Future of Mars Today. 13 December, 2001. 6 January 2002. <http://www.redcolony.com/>

• Content Summary: A good portal which hosts discussions and provides numerous links to other sites. There
  is again a lot of background material here that presents a good introduction to the reasons for and science of manned
  Mars exploration and colonization.
• Special Features: More images of possible habitation structures. Search function for more information. A
  news search engine is also included.
• Weaknesses: White text on a black background. The text is also small requiring a browser adjustment
  for some users.
• Recommended Uses: More good links to deeper sites. The news sections also point to pertinent information
  of what's going on in the world that impacts Mars travel and research. This is another good follow on site for the user
  who wants to delve deeper into this topic.

7. Planet Mars Home Page. 10 January, 2002. <http://www.marshome.com/>

• Content Summary: A "grass roots" site about the cooperation of private companies and students who are
  working to accelerate the pace of manned Mars exploration. There are a lot of links to many relevant organizations on this
  page. Some technical detail is evident with links to further details. Found through Yahoo's directory:
• Special Features: Martian weather report. Image of a rotating Mars. List of proposed and existing
  projects.
• Weaknesses: Amatuer feel to the page. Background is an annoying color. Lack of symmetry. Looks
  like the page was just added to as it went along. As seemed common, there was no date updated.
• Recommended Uses: Many links are useful. Communication could be established because of the wide range of
  links. This is a good starting place.

8. Robinson, Kim Stanley. The Mars Trilogy. Bantam Books, 1993.

• Content Summary: This trilogy of books, though fiction, explores the possible scientific, social and
  political situations that could arise from colonizing a "new world". The books span over two hundred years of the beginning of
  Mars colonization as well as pioneers on other planets and moons in the Solar System. Politically interesting points are
  the conflicts between "Reds" who want to maintain a native Martian climate and geology and the "Greens" who seek to
  terraform the planet and make it more like Earth.
• Special Features: Maps of the various areas of Mars. Simulations of where water would lie if the ice caps
  were melted.
• Weaknesses: It's fiction. However, throughout history reality has sometimes been even more
  imaginative than the stories that preceded it.
• Recommended Uses: This series of books examines many facets of the social side of setting up a civilization
  on a new planet. The political positions are realistic. The books raise many topics of discussion for would be Mars
  colonists.

9. Wilford, John Noble. Mars Beckons: The Mysteries, the Challenges, the Expectations of Our Next Great Adventure in Space. Random House. June 1991.

• Content Summary: This book looks at the history of knowledge of Mars and man's exploration thus far.
  There is also a look at what the future may bring as we go about exploring Mars. There is a surprising amount of technical detail included.
• Special Features: An interesting look at what people in the past have thought and assumed about Mars. A
  lot about former theories that have proven false upon more scientific examination.
• Weaknesses: The reading can be slow in spots. The reader needs to be interested in the subject
  matter. The book doesn't exactly grab the casual reader.
• Recommended Uses: The historical part was the fun part of this book. It serves as an anchor for those
  going forward. Good source of discussion topics.

10. Zubrin, Robert. Home page. 6 January, 2002. <http://www.aleph.se/Trans/Tech/Space/mars.html>

• Content Summary: This is a much more professional document. Author is from Lockheed Martin Astronautics.
  Much more detailed technical specifications for flight to Mars.
• Special Features: Much more detailed background information. Includes information about the economics
  involved. Also a good list of references at the end.
• Weaknesses: The page is mostly text. Though easy to read it does not draw the casual viewer in.
  The language is scientific which may not appeal to everyone. There was no date updated.
• Recommended Uses: A great next step. Could be used as background information because of the authority of
  the author.

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