Colonizing Mars

So, I like space. Yea yea, it sounds nerdy, its stereotyped, but its amazing if you think about it. The fact that humans are coming closer and closer to space exploration is something I have found fascinating ever since I was a child. I mean I might never live to see it, but I cant help but get excited whenever I hear news about, various missions Nasa is planning, or things or anomalies they have found. Maybe its because: in the scope of the universe we are so small, and there is so much to explore. I think Carl Sagan said it best:

“We live on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam”.

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-10/‘hundred-year-starship’-could-bring-humans-other-worlds-and-leave-them-there-forever


 So what purpose did that nerdy rant serve? I found this blog post on "Popsci", a little while ago (Its about 2 years old.). It goes over some crudely planned Mars colonization strategy by NASA. The idea is to take a large group of people and load them on a starship. These intergalactic pioneers, will then spend the rest of their lives, putting together a human settlement on Mars. The blog is quite short, and is pretty vague. NASA has not really released much details about the rest of the plan, except one stark statement: The settlers who create this establishment on Mars, will never return to earth. I suppose its for financial reasons, and it would be difficult to relaunch the ship from Mars's orbit, without a properly equipped space station. However; they will be shipped: tools, supplies and food, but other than that, they are on their own.

Isn't that crazy? Now... I'm not sure how much of this will actually happen, and I imagine no one really does. In fact, I'd be surprised if we ever get updated on this "colonization plan" ever again. Still though, it makes me wonder. Can you imagine how cool it would be to say that you were one of the first out of a whole sentient race, to set foot on an unexplored (or barely explored) planet? All at the cost of never seeing your home again? Would you guys volunteer yourself as pioneers? I'd love to be that courageous guy who would, but imagine the risks. Regardless though, I'm sure it would be amazing.