About the Journal

Mars Settlement - Journal of Mars Exploration and Settlement  is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to the scientific, technological, biological, medical, social, ethical, and interdisciplinary dimensions of human exploration and settlement of Mars.

The journal does not merely ask: "What is Mars?"
It investigates: "How can human life on Mars become possible, sustainable, and meaningful?"

This orientation distinguishes the journal as a scholarly platform that bridges scientific discovery with human futures, exploration with settlement, and Earth's knowledge with Martian reality.

The journal provides a scholarly platform for research addressing the transition from robotic and human exploration toward sustained human presence on the Red Planet. It welcomes contributions examining the physical and technological requirements of Mars missions, the development of sustainable habitats and life-support systems, the utilization of local resources, human health and performance, autonomous technologies, planetary environments, and the long-term prospects of Martian settlement.

The journal adopts a broad interdisciplinary perspective, recognizing that establishing a sustainable human presence on Mars requires the integration of knowledge across planetary science, space engineering, biology, medicine, architecture, environmental science, artificial intelligence, robotics, psychology, sociology, economics, law, ethics, and related fields.

Particular emphasis is placed on research that connects fundamental scientific knowledge with practical challenges of exploration and settlement, including resource utilization, closed-loop life-support systems, food production, energy generation, habitat design, radiation protection, transportation, autonomous operations, human factors, and long-duration habitation.

Mars Settlement also welcomes research addressing the broader implications of becoming a multi-planetary species, including governance, space law, planetary protection, ethics, social organization, economics, human adaptation, and the cultural and philosophical dimensions of establishing permanent communities beyond Earth.

The journal seeks to foster rigorous interdisciplinary dialogue and to advance a scientifically grounded understanding of the opportunities, limitations, risks, and long-term possibilities associated with human settlement of Mars.

How can humanity establish a sustainable and scientifically grounded presence on Mars? This central question serves as the intellectual spine of the journal, guiding its commitment to research that moves beyond describing Mars to investigating how human life on Mars can become possible, sustainable, and meaningful. 

SCOPE

The journal encompasses the following principal areas of inquiry:

1. Planetary Science

  • Topics: Martian geology, atmosphere, climate, surface morphology, magnetic field, water resources (ice deposits), and potential hazards (dust storms, radiation levels).

  • Contents: Surface mapping, subsurface structures, mineralogy, and analyses of potential sample-collection sites.

2. Space Engineering

  • Topics: Launch systems, spacecraft, entry, descent, and landing (EDL) technologies, orbital mechanics, and communication networks between Mars and Earth.

  • Contents: Next-generation rocket designs, propellant refilling systems, and propulsion/guidance systems.

3. Human Spaceflight & Medicine

  • Topics: Physiological effects of spaceflight on the human body (bone density loss, muscle atrophy, vision changes), microgravity and partial gravity (0.38g) medicine.

  • Contents: Radiation mitigation, emergency medical protocols, and psychological/physiological resilience testing.

4. Habitat & Architecture

  • Topics: Design of initial bases, domes, and modular structures on the Martian surface.

  • Contents: Inflatable habitats, subsurface/lava tube shelters, regolith-based 3D-printed construction technologies, and interior ergonomics.

5. Robotics & Artificial Intelligence

  • Topics: Autonomous systems designed to operate either ahead of human arrival or alongside crew members.

  • Contents: Exploration rovers, construction robots, automated maintenance systems, fault-detection AI algorithms, and autonomous logistics.

6. Astrobiology

  • Topics: Search for past or present biosignatures (microbial life) on Mars.

  • Contents: Panspermia hypothesis, extremophiles, biological contamination control, and planetary protection protocols.

7. Life Support & Sustainability

  • Topics: Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS), water and oxygen recycling systems.

  • Contents: In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies for extracting water and oxygen from Martian soil, hydroponic/aeroponic agriculture, and waste management.

8. Human Factors & Psychology

  • Topics: Effects of long-term confinement, isolation, communication time-lags with Earth, and living in cramped quarters on crew psychology.

  • Contents: Crew dynamics, leadership models, stress management, sleep optimization, and performance monitoring.

9. Economics, Law & Governance

  • Topics: Economic viability of Mars colonies, resource ownership, and space law.

  • Contents: Property rights of private entities or nations on Mars, updates to international space treaties (such as the Outer Space Treaty), commercial trade models, and local governance structures.

10. Ethics & Society

  • Topics: Philosophical, moral, and sociological implications of becoming a multi-planetary species.

  • Contents: The ethics of modifying a native planetary environment (terraforming), humanity's cultural evolution, and the emergence of new societal structures or subcultures.

Mars Science

  • Martian geology and geomorphology

  • Atmospheric science and climate dynamics

  • Planetary geophysics

  • Mineralogy and geochemistry

  • Astrobiology and the search for life

  • Biosignatures and habitability

  • Microbial survival and extremophile biology

  • Planetary ecosystems

Human Mars Exploration

  • Human mission architecture

  • Long-duration spaceflight

  • Mars mission planning and surface operations

  • Crew systems and human integration

  • Mission risk assessment and mitigation

Mars Habitats

  • Habitat design and space architecture

  • Underground and surface habitats

  • Radiation shielding and thermal management

  • Structural systems and construction

  • Settlement planning and infrastructure

  • Transportation networks and urban organization

  • Community design and human-centered environments

Life Support & Sustainability

  • Environmental control and life-support systems

  • Closed-loop ecological systems

  • Water recovery and recycling

  • Oxygen production and air revitalization

  • Waste recycling and resource recovery

  • Ecological life-support and bioregenerative systems

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)

  • Water extraction and processing

  • Regolith utilization and material processing

  • Oxygen and fuel production from local resources

  • Construction materials and local manufacturing

  • Resource mapping and assessment

  • In-situ manufacturing and additive construction

Food & Agriculture

  • Controlled-environment agriculture

  • Hydroponics, aeroponics, and vertical farming

  • Martian soil utilization and crop production

  • Food systems design and nutrition

  • Microbial food production and synthetic biology

Robotics & Artificial Intelligence

  • Autonomous rovers and exploration systems

  • AI-assisted exploration and decision support

  • Human–robot interaction and collaboration

  • Autonomous construction and maintenance

  • Swarm robotics and multi-agent systems

  • Intelligent systems for habitat management

Medicine & Human Biology

  • Space medicine and Mars medicine

  • Radiation biology and protection

  • Microgravity and partial-gravity effects

  • Musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and immunological adaptation

  • Long-duration health monitoring and countermeasures

  • Medical emergency preparedness and telemedicine

Psychology & Human Factors

  • Isolation, confinement, and extreme environments

  • Crew psychology and behavioral health

  • Cognitive performance and fatigue management

  • Human factors in habitat and systems design

  • Team dynamics and interpersonal relations

  • Psychological countermeasures and support systems

Architecture & Urbanism

  • Martian architecture and settlement design

  • Urban planning and infrastructure development

  • Transportation networks and mobility

  • Community design and social spaces

  • Vernacular adaptation to Martian conditions

  • Long-term urban growth and evolution

Energy

  • Solar power generation and storage

  • Nuclear power and advanced energy systems

  • Energy storage and distribution

  • Sustainable and resilient energy systems

  • Power system reliability and redundancy

Economics

  • Space economics and Mars settlement economics

  • Resource economics and cost modeling

  • Commercial space activity and markets

  • Interplanetary supply chains and logistics

  • Economic viability and sustainability

  • Investment and financial frameworks

Law, Governance & Ethics

  • Space law and international frameworks

  • Planetary governance and institutional design

  • Property rights and resource rights

  • Planetary protection and environmental ethics

  • Ethical frameworks for settlement

  • Human rights and justice beyond Earth

  • Governance models for extraterrestrial communities

Society & Culture

  • Martian society and social organization

  • Sociology of settlement and community formation

  • Education and knowledge transmission

  • Communication and information systems

  • Culture, identity, and values

  • Generational dynamics and social continuity

MARS 2050

  • Futures-oriented research and scenario development

  • Mid-century settlement visions and projections

  • Long-term population and capacity modeling

  • Closed ecological system requirements

  • Governance and societal evolution

  • Human adaptation limits and possibilities

  • Resource self-sufficiency scenarios

  • Comparative futures of planetary civilization

MARS SYSTEMS

  • Integrated systems approaches to settlement

  • Habitat + Energy + Food + Water + Oxygen

  • Waste management + Transportation

  • Human systems + Artificial intelligence

  • System-of-systems modeling and optimization

  • Resilience, redundancy, and sustainability

Long-Term Human Futures

  • Human adaptation and evolution beyond Earth

  • Multi-generational settlement dynamics

  • Terraforming and planetary engineering

  • Development of planetary civilization

  • Interplanetary civilization and society

  • Philosophical and existential dimensions

DISTINGUISHING IDENTITY

Mars Settlement is differentiated from conventional planetary science journals by its defining commitment:

FROM EXPLORATION TO SETTLEMENT

This guiding principle shapes the journal's unique position at the intersection of:

  • Planetary science with engineering and technology

  • Biology and medicine with architecture and design

  • Artificial intelligence and robotics with human factors

  • Psychology and sociology with law, ethics, and economics

From Earth to Mars.
From Exploration to Settlement.
From the Present to the Future.