So you have decided to make the move to the Red Planet. Congratulations - and welcome to a community of pioneers. Here is what Mission Control tells every first-time colonist before they board.

1. Pick Your Neighborhood Before Your Launch Window

Transfer windows to Mars open roughly every 26 months …

Choosing a realtor on Earth is hard enough. Choosing one who can close a deal 55 million kilometers away, through a 20-minute comms delay, during a dust storm? That takes a different kind of agent.

Five Questions to Ask

1. Which worlds are you licensed on? Jurisdictions vary wildly. A Luna …