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Hey guys looooong time no talk. I'm wondering if any of you might be able to help me find an old story I'm looking for that I've been unable to locate. It was an online serial about developing a colony on Mars, which I read back when I was active on this site, so... 20 years ago! Circa 2005-ish?
I've got no idea what it was called, but it was several chapters long and featured a long, plausible-ish course for the development of Mars. Starting with I think a Zubrin-esque lander. Some of the astronauts staying over the mission period, and eventually becoming the first Martians?
Other things mentioned:
* At some point, I think some private entity developed SSO space planes, which were used to bring costs down
* They built some early habitats using in situ resources, but I don't think they were ever really used due to worries about pressurization. Eventually, bubble habs were developed.
* There was some tension between the early colonists (like just a small family basically at this point) and later missions. I don't think NASA or whatever space agency they reported to was 100% on board with them staying.
* There was discussion about how to make Mars economically viable. There was some minimal tourism, and I think someone tried to shoot a movie? There was some discussion about how they only imported the most luxurious goods, because the price of goods for something like a chocolate bar was trivial compared to the cost of transportation.
* The character's religion played a somewhat significant role? Like... not philosophically, but they were some of (if not the) first colonists, and there were some converts? I wish I could recall what it was; it wasn't one I was familiar with. Middle-eastern-ish, like islamic or hindu. Maybe Sikhi? I'm really not sure.
I know this is a long shot, but I was thinking about it so I thought I'd throw it out there.
While I'm at it, I'd like to link a story I *did* manage to find from way back when. About using ballons to lift a mass driver for cheaper space access, a good read!
https://www.chicagospace.org/space-sett … ort-story/
thanks for taking the time to read this!
He who refuses to do arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense.
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This post is reserved for an index to posts that may be contributed by NewMars members.
It is good to have a member who joined NewMars in 2002 back with us, and with a very interesting challenge to boot!
For our new members, Austin Stanley joined 2002-03-18
Our Senior Moderator joined 2002-08-20
Our Senior Administrator joined 2004-07-22
Our Junior Administrator joined 2015-01-03
Our Junior Moderator joined 2018-04-27
Terraformer joined 2007-08-27
Austin Stanley contributed 520 posts, starting in 2002-03-18 (Nuclear Reactor ... way to go)
His most recent post before his welcome return in 2025 was in 2008-03-21.
I will follow up Mr. Stanley's return by creating a topic which members are welcome to use for direct correspondence.
For Mr. Stanley ... I hope our members are able to think of the story series you remember ... I also hope the old timers in the group may swap a few stories with you, about the early days, when Palomar was active along with many other names I have seen in the archive.
Index:
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For Austin Stanley...
Since you were active in the forum, search tools have improved a bit. In this case, I decided to ask Google's enhanced search engine (called Gemini) to see what it could find. Interestingly, the program crashed on the first try, but I asked it to try again and this time it came up with something interesting:
Conversation with Gemini
Search for Story posted Online - Hi Gemini! This request is on behalf of a member of a small international forum where I serve as Junior Moderator. I am hoping you might be able to assist with the search described in this post:
Hey guys looooong time no talk. I'm wondering if any of you might be able to help me find an old story I'm looking for that I've been unable to locate. It was an online serial about developing a colony on Mars, which I read back when I was active on this site, so... 20 years ago! Circa 2005-ish?
I've got no idea what it was called, but it was several chapters long and featured a long, plausible-ish course for the development of Mars. Starting with I think a Zubrin-esque lander. Some of the astronauts staying over the mission period, and eventually becoming the first Martians?
Other things mentioned:
* At some point, I think some private entity developed SSO space planes, which were used to bring costs down
* They built some early habitats using in situ resources, but I don't think they were ever really used due to worries about pressurization. Eventually, bubble habs were developed.
* There was some tension between the early colonists (like just a small family basically at this point) and later missions. I don't think NASA or whatever space agency they reported to was 100% on board with them staying.
* There was discussion about how to make Mars economically viable. There was some minimal tourism, and I think someone tried to shoot a movie? There was some discussion about how they only imported the most luxurious goods, because the price of goods for something like a chocolate bar was trivial compared to the cost of transportation.
* The character's religion played a somewhat significant role? Like... not philosophically, but they were some of (if not the) first colonists, and there were some converts? I wish I could recall what it was; it wasn't one I was familiar with. Middle-eastern-ish, like islamic or hindu. Maybe Sikhi? I'm really not sure.
I know this is a long shot, but I was thinking about it so I thought I'd throw it out there.
While I'm at it, I'd like to link a story I *did* manage to find from way back when. About using ballons to lift a mass driver for cheaper space access, a good read!
https://www.chicagospace.org/space-sett … ort-story/
thanks for taking the time to read this!
*** crash occurred then on second try>>>
Google Search
That is a very detailed request! It sounds like a fascinating story. Finding older, serialized online fiction can definitely be a challenge, especially when the title isn't known.Based on the very specific details about the Mars colonization process, the timeline (circa 2005), and some of the unique elements, I have a strong candidate for the story your forum member is looking for:
The story is very likely "The New Mars" (or simply "Mars") by Stephen M. Webb.
Here is how the details align:
Detail from Request Alignment with "The New Mars" by Stephen M. Webb
Online serial, circa 2005-ish. Webb published the story online in installments around the early 2000s, fitting the 2005 recollection.
Developing a colony on Mars. This is the central theme of the entire work, following the mission from first landing to an established colony.
Starting with a Zubrin-esque lander. The first mission, called Ares 1, uses a plan clearly inspired by Robert Zubrin's "Mars Direct" concept, including using in situ resource utilization (ISRU) for propellant production.
Some of the astronauts staying over the mission period, and eventually becoming the first Martians? This is a major plot point. The main characters of the initial mission (Ares 1) do decide to stay, becoming the nucleus of the permanent colony.
Private entity developed SSO space planes. Later chapters detail the development of reusable SSTO/S-STO vehicles by private industry (like the "Phoenix" SSTO), which drastically lowers the cost of transport to orbit, a critical step for Mars viability.
Early habitats using in situ resources... never really used due to worries about pressurization. Eventually, bubble habs were developed. The initial Ares 1 crew builds a small habitat using indigenous basalt/sulfur cement, but it's small and later deemed insufficient/risky. Larger, more robust "bubble" habitats (inflatables/geodesic domes) are developed and become the standard.
Tension between the early colonists and later missions. Don't think NASA... was 100% on board with them staying. This is a core dramatic element. The crew's decision to stay is controversial and leads to political tension, particularly with the subsequent, larger, more government-controlled missions.
Discussion about how to make Mars economically viable. Minimal tourism, someone tried to shoot a movie? Economic viability is a constantly explored theme. Later missions try to set up "Mars R&D" as an industry. Tourism is mentioned, and the idea of a major film being shot there to fund a project is specifically discussed.
Character's religion played a somewhat significant role? Middle-eastern-ish, like islamic or hindu. Maybe Sikhi? This is a very strong match.
The main character/narrator, Dr. Suman "Sumit" Laha, is a Sikh. His religion and philosophical outlook are a recurring theme in his personal reflections and his interactions with others, making it a prominent, though not dominant, feature of the story.While the original website where it was serialized might be defunct or archived, Stephen M. Webb later compiled and published the complete serial as a novel.
The novel is titled: Mars (sometimes published as "Mars: The Initial Study" or "The New Mars").
Your forum member might be able to find the complete text or novelization through a general search using the author and title. Since it was an online serial, searching for phrases like:
"The New Mars" Stephen M. Webb serial
"Mars" Stephen M. Webb novel Zubrin
Suman Laha Sikh Mars colonization story
... might yield links to the complete text as it was originally posted or to sites that discussed it at the time.
I recommend the forum member start by searching for: "The New Mars" by Stephen M. Webb. Good luck!
***
Thank you ** very ** much! This is most helpful to jog our collective memory.
***You're very welcome! I'm glad that was helpful. Happy to assist your forum member in their search for the story! Good luck to them. ?
I hope our members will have a few moments to join in the search, or to recall the story.
(th)
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