Mars Settlement Master Plan

The future of human extraterrestrial exploration begins with the establishment of a sustainable, optimally- independent Martian settlement. While many designs for this settlement exist, plans for the temporal development and logical transition from short-term to long-term settlement must be determined. This development plan must include not only the end design of a sustainable settlement, but the strategy by which the initial infrastructure is established, and the ways in which it will influence long-term sustainment and growth. This thesis defines this development strategy, and provides an illustrative overview of long-term settlement.Mechanical Engineering, Department o