Here’s an example of one of the earlier Mars colony facilities, constructed and run by SpaceX.

Here’s an example of one of the earlier Mars colony facilities, constructed and run by SpaceX.There are two main parts to the facility: a central hub containing labs, control rooms, offices, mess hall, and living quarters; and the greenhouse, used to produce food and partially oxygenate the facility to sustain the crew without need of resupply. The entire facility was first powered by solar panels, but once the facility grew and more people came, nuclear fission reactors were able to be installed to provide a dispatchable energy source.Since there is limited space to grow food on Mars, colonists are for the most part vegetarian since raising animals would consume more food than they would supply. But these surface facilities didn’t last. Since Mars barely has an atmosphere, the planet and constantly hit with the sun’s radiation. Soon, the colonies would have to be protected from such radiation. And the easiest way to do that is to go underground.Here are what the current colonies look like.On Mars exist massive lava tubes which are basically giant caves with opening which lead to the surface. But since they are hundreds and sometimes thousands of feet below the surface, no radiation is able to get through. So humans are able to live in communities underground and never have to fear the harmful affects of radiation. -- source link

More pics about