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Thanks, Marsdog and Dook.
I think the way the robots would self-replicate would interest children. My son thought it was neat. And the nuclear threat is the main reason I'm interested in a Mars mission! We're in a dangerous position right now, with some irrational people controlling (or failing to control) it!
I'm thinking you're right about two habs at the same time, sort of as a safety, rather than pack too many people into one ship, so I'll probably do that, with a nice emergency space walk when one gets in trouble. But really, wouldn't that be doubling the problems, rather than helping things? Hm. Have to think about it. I already figured that the impractical number can be excused by writing that the participating nations just wouldn't back down on each one having a citizen onboard.
I know the story needs conflict, and appeal to children. I want to keep it pretty hard sci-fi, but if sneaking a puppy or a kid onboard, unrealistic as it is, would help raise interest in colonizing Mars, well...that is why they call it fiction!
I went looking for a children's sci-fi book for my eight year old and couldn't find a thing. Everything is fantasy, distant future, cartoon series, and other reading material that doesn't seem to provoke much interest in space exploration.
So now, with my son's input, I'm working on a story with the aid of Mr. Zubrin's book, The Case For Mars.
I wanted to have eight people for the first mission (I know it's more than recommended, but with more money, it should be possible, right?), all from different nations, chosen from countries that pitched in supplies, cash, and technology. The motivation to fund the mission is partly fear of being left out of future colonization. In other words, these nations, and/or their corporations decide to fund the mission to get one of their citizens onboard. This would prevent any one nation from claiming, on paper or defacto, that Mars is their colony.
It leaves NASA, the corporations who seek more advanced technology than is necessary out of profit motivation, and the United States government with no choice but to participate by sending a citizen and providing some of the technology.
So I just found this site, and I'm learning a lot. The idea of having robots build themselves before humans arrive is great. I think it would really capture the imagination of readers.
Any suggestions for our story? We thought a trilogy at first would be good, the first manned mission, the first permanent settlers, and then one further in the future, with asteroid belt mining, geothermal power, and neat inventions for getting about and getting things done on Mars. (My son favors legged vehicles, and who knows? Rocky as Mars is, maybe it would be a good way to get around).
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