Mars

Mars

Role: Major Sol Colony | Resource Mining World
Circumference: 13,263 Miles
Population: Speculation: Tens of Hundreds of millions
Orbital Path: Fourth
Rotational Period (days): 1.025
Orbital Period (days): 687
Primary Function: Resource Mining | Major Colony
Retention Index: 3

Martian Culture has been described to be essentially identical to that of all of Sol's major colonies, including Earth it self. As one of the Federation's oldest colonies, beaten in age only by Luna Base, Martian culture is deeply tied with Earth's culture, and indeed with the culture of the Federation as a whole. Though it's roots stem from initially being a resource mining oriented planet, it has since grown into an expansive and varied colony filled with modern architecture and bold monuments to science.

History

The first permanent colony on Mars; Olympus Base, was established in 2190, a mere eight years following the establishment of Luna Base on Earth's Moon. Mars had in many aspects proven to be as fruitful as the Federation had hoped, providing vast amounts of material resources with which to expand the Federation's infrastructure, as well as posing as an important stop-over point for the then sub-light only Federation space vessels. Shortly following the permanent establishment of Olympus Base, the Federation commissioned the construction of a permanent orbital base positioned between Mars' two moons; Phobos and Deimos. This orbital base was christened Crimson Base, and acted as an important fuel and repair depot for the Federation's vessels, as well as functioning as an important final line of defense for Earth, should the need ever arise.

Only in one aspect did Mars disappoint. No local fauna or flora was found, and thus Mars was unable to provide food for even itself, let alone act as a Breadbasket for the Sol system, something the Federation was desperately seeking with an ever-increasing demand for food that became ever harder to meet.