FAQ

What are the diets like on Mars?

Advances in agriculture allow Mars to grow local produce.  Vegetables, Legumes and Fungi are adapted to grow in volume.  There is a variety of livestock, but meat products are consumed at a significantly lower volume than on Earth.  Meat substitutes do provide adequate dietary balance and culinary variety.  There is no beef on Mars.

Imported food supplies include raw materials such as coffee, sugar, and seeds.  Process foods are also luxury imports.

Are there Autonomous Robots?

Yes, there are autonomous machines, semi-self-aware systems and virtual assistants that are part of everyday life as well as essential tools and contributors to public works and business.

Do people drive cars?

The largest community is Marineris, with a population of 19,000 residents living in mostly subterranean structures.  Imagine contained environments like office towers and malls connected together underground.  There are transport and elevator systems, but no traffic ways and traditional roads like those found in Earth city and towns.

Movements outside of colonies are heavily restricted, so average citizens do not make ‘road-trips’ on their own.   Outdoor movements are controlled and akin to airport travel in terms of security and access.

What currency do they use?

All colonies function with virtual currencies that trade and exchange globally and with Earth.  

The value of currency is, however, perceived differently in day-to-day life on Mars than on Earth.  The small town aspects as well as constrained market conditions result in less commercialism compared with that of their Earth counterparts.  There is only so much to buy and there is also a greater awareness that everyone contributes on Mars to keep it livable.

What is Earth's sentiment toward Mars?

There is a full spectrum of attitudes, but generally Mars maintains an aspirational quality.  That colonies have become self-governing states is also widely accepted as most civilians were not willing to have tax dollars support open-ended investment for a distant planet.

Presently, Earth is dominantly concerned with its own challenges and Mars has crossed the tipping point where there are tangible returns from trade and commerce.

What is the fastest means of transport available on the planet?

The fastest means of travel would be space travel; launching a pod into orbit and descend on a target destination.  This is, however, not a common form of transportation.

The most common form of travel is land transport on surface and subsurface tunnels.  Vehicles can hit speeds of 300kph.

Air travel does exist, but is also not common.

What is the wealth distribution like on the Mars?

First, due to the nature of colony life, there is virtually no poverty on Mars.  It is a very small, regulated and controlled ecosystem.  Think of living in something between a submarine and a cruise ship, so cannot be compared with most Earth lifestyles and economies.  Immigration to  Mars has become strategic to ensure individuals are not only mentally and physically capable of transitioning to life on Mars, but to play an active role in maintaining the delicate balance of maintaining and expanding livability.   Education is similar in that colonists are motivated toward skills, careers, and professions that are in demand.

Virtually all colonists play a functional role to the community. 

There continues to be a disproportionate number of individuals that would be regarded as high-net-worth (many of these people landing in the 40s-50s when it was possible to 'buy-your-way' to Mars), however, the capacity for extreme wealth to be flaunted is extremely limited on Mars.  You just do not have the same freedoms or access to 'stuff'.

What do people do in their free time?

The pace of life is generally slower than urban life on Earth with respect to social pastimes.  There is similar access to entertainment, games, markets, social environments and special occasions such as fairs or festivals.  As a generalization, Martians do tend to enjoy social interaction over sedentary activities.

Physical activity is a critical element in maintaining a healthy life on Mars, so most Martian residents spend significant hours in a day in some form of physical regiment.
 

What type of calendar do they use?

The Darian system is used for all Martian Time.  The Calendar has 24 months applied against the 669 Solar Days in a Martian Year.

You will notice the MAFL matches are played against the Darian Calendar and published on Meta Olympia adjusted to reflect current calendar dates.

Gregorian Years (i.e. 2077) are used interchangeably as Mars colonies have significant ties to Earth-based systems.  Martians generally use Earth years to measure things like age.   Many holidays are also celebrated to correspond with Earth, so on Mars, they have two Christmases, two Hanukkahs, two Chinese New Years, two Ramadans, etc...  

Learn more about the Darian calendar here: http://ops-alaska.com