Mars colony: A new home or a one-way ticket?

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-13

Mars has always been the ultimate what-if. The red dot in the night sky that has fueled science fiction, billionaires' dreams, and late-night debates. But now, the conversation has shifted from "if we go" to "what happens when we stay?" Harry Margulies recently dug into this question, and honestly, it's more complicated than you might think. We're not just talking about a quick visit anymore. The real conversation is about colonisation. And that means facing a brutal truth: the people who land on Mars might never come back. Not because we can't build a return rocket, but because their bodies and lives will adapt to a world that is completely unforgiving. ### The gravity problem no one wants to talk about Here's the thing about Mars that we often gloss over: it has about 38% of Earth's gravity. That might sound like a fun party trick, but it's a physiological nightmare. On Earth, we weigh ourselves down constantly. Our bones, muscles, and even our cardiovascular system are built for this specific pull. On Mars, you'd weigh less than half of what you do here. If you weigh 180 pounds on Earth, you'd tip the scales at just over 68 pounds on the Red Planet. That sounds kind of cool until you realize your body starts to break down. Bone density loss accelerates. Muscle atrophy becomes a real threat. Your heart doesn't have to work as hard, and over time, that changes how it functions. Settlers would have to live in artificial gravity environments or spend hours a day on intense exercise just to keep their bodies from wasting away. And even then, it's not a guarantee. The low gravity isn't just a physical hurdle; it's a permanent change to the human condition. ### A one-way trip changes everything Think about the psychology of signing up for a mission where the return ticket is off the table. That's not a vacation; that's a commitment. The first generation of Martian settlers will know, deep down, that they are saying goodbye to Earth forever. They'll never feel wind on their face or swim in an ocean again. This shifts the entire incentive structure. You're not exploring; you're building a home in the harshest environment imaginable. Every decision becomes about survival and long-term sustainability. The food you grow, the air you breathe, the water you recycle—it all has to work perfectly, every single day, or you die. Margulies points out that this isn't just a technical challenge. It's a human one. How do you keep morale up when the sky is permanently pink and the sunsets are blue? How do you raise children who have never seen a tree? These aren't sci-fi questions anymore. They're logistical problems for the people planning these missions. ### Why it's still worth it Despite the doom and gloom, there's a compelling case for going anyway. Mars is the only planet in our solar system that could realistically support a permanent human presence. It has water ice, a day length similar to ours, and enough resources to build habitats. It's the stepping stone to the rest of the solar system. - **Scientific discovery:** A permanent base would allow us to study geology and potential microbial life in ways rovers never could. - **Human resilience:** We are a species of explorers. The desire to push beyond boundaries is literally in our DNA. - **Insurance policy:** Having a self-sustaining colony on another planet means humanity survives even if Earth faces a catastrophic event. ### The bottom line Mars isn't going to be easy. It's likely going to be a one-way trip for the pioneers, and they'll have to adapt to a life that is physically and mentally demanding. But maybe that's the price of becoming a multi-planetary species. The question isn't whether we can do it. The question is whether we're ready to accept the cost. Margulies' exploration leaves you with more questions than answers, which is exactly how it should be. This is a decision that will define the next century of human history, and it's one we need to get right.