This passage is by Paul Davies: “Obviously this strategy carries significant risks in addition to those faced by a conventional Mars mission.

This passage is by Paul Davies:

“Obviously this strategy carries significant risks in addition to those faced by a conventional Mars mission. Major equipment failure COULD leave the colony without enough power, oxygen or food. An accident might kill or disable an astronaut who provided some vital expertise. A supply drop might fail, condemning the colonists to starve in a very public way. Even if nothing went wrong, the astronauts’ lives would certainly be shortened by the harsh conditions….”