Building Mars Logistics: A Systems Approach to Transportation and Supply Chain for Future Human Settlement

Abstract

The vision of human settlement on Mars presents one of the most significant logistical challenges ever faced by humanity. This paper explores a systems approach to building a comprehensive transportation and supply chain infrastructure for future Mars colonization. It considers the unique requirements of Mars logistics, including transportation constraints, resource extraction, storage, and distribution systems, as well as the role of automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI). The complexity of transporting people, goods, and essential resources across vast interplanetary distances necessitates a robust, integrated strategy that ensures sustainability and efficiency. This research delves into the technological, operational, and economic factors critical to developing a logistics framework capable of supporting human life on Mars. Through a combination of existing space technologies, proposed innovations, and the application of systems engineering principles, this paper outlines a path forward for overcoming the challenges of supply chain management on Mars.