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This article aims to fill that gap by discussing the middle ground—not just how to reach Mars but what comes after we've landed.
Presenting the New Martian Landscape
Assuming that the systems for resource extraction and orbital habitats have already been established, we find ourselves arriving at Mars amidst three principal settlements: Pavonis, Olympus Mons, and Valles Marineris.
Pavonis, the largest of these, serves as the initial hub of Martian life. As new colonists arrive, they are greeted not by a booming metropolis but by fragile habitats primarily located in natural caves and lava tubes, representing a stark contrast to the bustling, technologically advanced life many would expect.