In the past 46 years, NASA's Apollo and shuttle programmes alone have sent approximately 10,600 tonnes into low Earth orbit. Simply matching this tonnage in the next 46 years should be more than enough to establish a self-supporting colony on Mars. NASA's Ares V rocket - currently in development - could do the heavy lifting: it is being designed to carry about 130 tonnes into low Earth orbit. The Ares V might take 12 years to develop but, after that, four rockets could be assembled and launched in every two-year cycle. Over a period of 34 years, these rockets could carry 8840 tonnes into low Earth orbit - more than enough to establish a Mars colony.
Missing the chance to colonise Mars would be a tragic mistake, but one we may make. In 1969 rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun had plans to land astronauts on Mars by 1982, but President Nixon chose not to go ahead with it.
Missing the chance to colonise Mars would be a tragic mistake, but one we may make.
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