Mars Exploration Artwork by Carter Emmart
	Early Base A 1994 NASA study, called A Design Reference Mission for Mars, considered the installation of a human base which would utilize Martian resources for fuel and air. Depicted here, the base would consist of redundant systems in case of emergency or equipment failures. Two, identical habitats would have attached greenhouses, airlocks, and rock sample racks which could be accessed by robot arms and small airlock for hands-on examination. A small nuclear generator, in a nearby crater, provides initial electrical energy.

Green House Inside the inflatable greenhouses seen above, a shirt sleeve environment allows for food growth. Meanwhile, a suited worker, outside the clear plastic walls, straightens cables that carry blankets over the structure for warmth in the cold Martian night.

NASA Hopper Another NASA idea would use a landing site reconnaissance probe to verify safety of a landing site. Years later, a landing party visits the probe just like Apollo 12 astronauts visited the Surveyor lunar probe.

Canyon Rover A heavy duty treaded rover serves as mobile home to astronauts that unload a more maneuverable dune buggy for short forays in small canyons.

Mars Plane Flight on Mars is possible, as proven by drone aircraft on Earth that have flown at altitudes that are equivalent to Mars' atmospheric pressure. This rendering was done in collaboration with NASA engineer Dale Reed, who developed such drone aircraft and proposed them for Mars exploration.

Balloon Rover A balloon attached to a rover, carries stereo video cameras for long range terrain reconnaissance during exploration.

Paine Base Late NASA Administrator (1968-1970), Thomas O. Paine directed this vision of an advanced outpost/colony on Mars. Large use of solar electric farms would provide power, while colonists live in high rises warmed by mirrors reflecting in additional light during the day. Vast radial greenhouse farming in inflatables give way toward more permanent underground farming beneath glass autoclaved in solar furnaces. Liftoff and landing facilities are distanced for safety, and monitored from a high central tower.

Solar Farm Energy, the key element to establishing a foothold on Mars, is gathered with large solar electric farms in Sun facing crater slopes.

This book was originally suggested as an idea by the former Thomas O. Paine, NASA administrator from 1968-1970, and Chairman of the National Commission on Space, 1986. He died in 1992, leaving as his last work, a chapter for this book. His design for the Mars flag is shown on the cover, being raised by his grandson who bears his name.

Prologue by Daniel S. Goldin, current NASA Administrator.

Strategies for Mars: A Guide to Human Exploration Strategies for Mars:A Guide to Human Exploration Vol. 86 of the Science and Technology Series of the American Astronautical Society. Copyright 1996. Univelt, Inc. P.O. Box 28130, San Diego, CA 92198 (760) 746-4005