Arcadia Planitia
Where is it?
- It’s located in the northern hemisphere of Mars, between 30°N to 50°N latitude and 180°W to 150°W longitude
- Arcadia Planitia is located a bit north and east of Olympus Mons, but still within the western half of the planet, near the cooler northern lowlands.
Why is it special?
- Super flat and smooth with fewer rocks and craters for spacecraft to crash into
- Made of old lava flows that formed billions of years ago, volcanoes once flooded the area with lava that cooled into a vast plain.
- Radar from orbit shows massive amounts of water ice just below the surface (like a giant frozen lake buried under dirt).
Alba Mons
Where is it?
- Far north on Mars, near the top of the planet.
- Centered around 40°N latitude and 110°W longitude.
- If Arcadia Planitia is east and a bit south of Olympus Mons, then Alba Mons is up north, almost directly above Arcadia Planitia on the map.
Why is it special?
- Covers an area the size of Texas
- Only rises about 4 miles above the surrounding land, making it much shorter than Olympus Mons.
- The slope slides so gently you could walk up it without noticing it's a volcano.
- Erupted billions of years ago, now a giant frozen lava shield
Resource Capability
Small nuclear micro-reactors, delivered by rocket, will work underground on Mars to provide steady power all day and night, without depending on sunlight. Nearby, ice mining will supply the colony with water for drinking and growing food, as well as oxygen for breathing and producing rocket fuel, such as methane. Regolith from the walls of underground lava tubes is turned into bricks and other building materials, allowing settlers to construct what they need and recycle resources efficiently in their new environment.
Terrain & Climate
The flat terrain of Arcadia Planitia provides an ideal surface for landing spacecraft smoothly, which is essential for safe arrivals, especially with select spacecraft carrying humans. The area's lower altitude helps slow down incoming spacecraft during descent, increasing safety for landings. Because of its specific latitude and altitude, this region also has somewhat milder summers and winters compared to other parts of Mars. These conditions help moderate the extremes of Martian weather, making it better for long-term settlement and daily human activities.
Lava Tubes: Ready-Made Cities
Giant empty tunnels were left behind when lava drained out billions of years ago. Think of it as natural subway tunnels, but kilometers wide and hundreds of meters tall.
Mars has no magnetic field and a thin atmosphere, so people on the surface are exposed to high levels of dangerous radiation and solar flares. Spending time underground solves this problem. Just two to three meters of rock overhead can block 99% of the radiation. The surface of Mars also experiences extreme temperature swings, dropping to -60°C at night and rising to about +20°C during the day, but inside a lava tube, temperatures stay around a comfortable -10°C, greatly reducing the need for extra heating or cooling. Living underground also protects the colony from dust storms, which can last for months. Beneath the surface, there’s no dust or blackouts, making life much more stable. Lava tubes are massive and could house tens of thousands of people, with different tubes connected to form underground neighborhoods for farming, industry, schools, and parks lit by LED “skies.”