The Mars Foundation’s hope for humanity’s future on Mars is neatly summed up by their slogan: "To arrive, survive and thrive!" In July at the International Conference on Environmental Systems (SAE-ICES) in Rome, the group presented plans for a permanent settlement they believe can be built using near-term technologies and resources already available on Mars. The Mars Foundation is a non-profit organization made up of approximately 30 volunteer members, many of them scientists and engineers, and their effort is called the "Homestead Project." According to the plans, the settlement will rely on a curious blend of old and new technology:...