colonization of Mars

A rendering of the Interplanetary Transport System approaching Mars, a concept colony ship of the in-development SpaceX Mars Colonization Program

The colonization of Mars is the proposed process of establishing permanent human settlements on the planet Mars. While most colonization concepts focus on settling, colonization is a broader ethical concept. International space law has limited colonization, and national space programs have avoided it, instead focusing on human mission to Mars for exploring the planet. The settlement of Mars would require the migration of humans to the planet, the establishment of a permanent human presence, and the exploitation of local resources.