Why Mars ? Outside of the Earth-Moon system, Mars is the most
hospitable body in the solar system for humans and is currently
the only real candidate for future human exploration and
colonization. Mars offers the opportunity for in-situ resource
utilization providing air for the astronauts to breathe and fuel
for their surface rovers and return vehicle (this will be
discussed in further detail later). Mercury is far too close to
the Sun (radiation and temperature extremes) and has almost no
atmosphere, Venus is far too hot (avg. 500oC) and the surface
pressures are extreme, the gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune) do not provide a surface on which to land (at least
until the pressure is far too great!), and Pluto is far too cold
and distant. Some of the moons of Jupiter (eg. Europa) and
Saturn (eg. Titan) are interesting targets in the search for
life elsewhere in the solar system, but they are much farther
away and far more inhospitable than Mars. In August of 1992, a
"Why Mars" workshop was held in