Hello Mark -

Sadly, Mars is regularly pounded by massive amounts of radiation. While this has extreme implications as to the possibility of life on Mars, no one in this many years' long "debate" ever pointed this out.

Given this fact, it will be impossible to terra-form Mars. There will never be an impact lifeboat there. Also, it is likely that public funds for robotic exploration are likely to be reduced as well. (Perhaps it is time for the private sector to step up its efforts here.)

Given this limitation on the possibilities of developing Mars, it is going to be extremely difficult to justify as public expenditure the contruction of an underground antartic-base size facility, at least during most of our lifetimes, baring some really, really massive reduction in transportation costs, ones that I can't see at all right now.

On the bright side, NASA will now shift its prime focus, from Mars settlement to low gravity industrial research and impact defense of the Earth. The possibilty of a man tended lunar observatory will come into clearer view.

Though it's not much consolation for losing Mars as a habitable world, who knows - maybe some other body will be found elswhere that can be made habitable -

EP