A City on Mars

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Kelly Weinersmith is a behavioral ecologist and adjunct at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Her husband Zach Weinersmith is an American cartoonist and writer best known for his long-running webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. Together, the couple has co-authored the bestselling book Soonish.

Establishing a sustainable habitat on another planet is an extraordinary challenge, far beyond the romanticized notions of space colonization. Toxic soil, rugged terrain, unbreathable air, and relentless radiation are just a few of the obstacles. Survival would require sealed environments, likely buried under layers of shielding materials, while energy production—whether through solar panels or nuclear reactors—poses logistical hurdles. Recycling systems for air, water, and nutrients are essential, and unconventional food sources like lab-grown meat or insects may become necessary. Even if technical issues are resolved, the psychological strain of confined living and isolation, as seen in experiments like Biosphere 2, cannot be ignored. Furthermore, outdated space laws, such as the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, complicate ownership and resource rights, favoring exploitation over conservation. While the Moon’s proximity and Mars’ resources offer potential, both present significant risks, from toxic regolith to planet-wide dust storms. Rotating space habitats, though ambitious, remain costly and technically challenging. Ultimately, the dream of space settlement demands immense innovation, and even success would only mark the beginning of humanity’s off-world struggles.

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