Preliminary estimation of a possibility to create a self-supporting colony in natural cavities of Mars

The article describes a hypothetically possible organization of a Martian colony envisaging its employment in extraction and primary processing of the Solar system resources, which later could be delivered to the terrestrial market. Nuclear industry is considered to be the basis of the colony industry and the source of its revenue ensuring the colony self-sufficiency. Conditions in Mars are optimal in this regard from the environmental point of view and provide an opportunity to create an industry built on the basis of nuclear energy to build transport spaceships for delivering the mentioned above resources to the Earth. The article identifies main sources of resources to ensure the colony life, describes the principle of operation of the most important systems and production cycles, as well as of the life support and energy supply systems. Possibility of the colonists’ arrangement in lava pipes, diagram and description of residential, working and technical premises, as well as project implementation taking into consideration modern technologies are presented.