... we could settle Mars?

It is a well known fact that the population on earth is increasing rapidly.
One consequence of this is, that the available basic resources, like water or nutrition, will not cover the needs of that many persons sufficiently.
This is why planet mars comes into discussion, which could serve as an additional settlement next to our blue planet.
But is it possible for mankind to settle Mars in the closer future?

The main problem is the absence of a strong magnetic field protecting the surface of planet mars from the sunwind.
The sunwind insists of unimaginable small charged particels, expelled by the sun with about 600 kilometers per second.
Even on earth, which actually has a decent and protective magnetic field, the sunwind caused a forest fire as well as power cuts in the past just to mention a few.

Scientists found out, that the magnetic field of Mars was not able to resist the powerful sunwind.
As a result the sunwind stripped away most of the Oxygen and Carbon dioxide, literally destroying the originally thick atmosphere of planet mars.
Using an oxygen mask on the red planet is therefore obligatory as the oxygen concentration of mars' surface corresponds to the oxygen concentration, which is on earth in 30 kilometers height.

Another difficulty is, that for a long time there is no accessible water on planet mars any more,
at least no amount worth mentioning.
So basically Mars can be described as a desert, however a really cold one with an average temperature of -55 degrees.

To conclude there is to say that the settlement of mars will not be possible in the closer future.
There are interesting concepts, dealing with restoring the atmosphere of planet mars.
But the connected costs are so high, that it will take a long time until this will be possible to realize.

I personally would give a lot to at least visit planet Mars.
It would be so much fun to explore the highest mountain of our solar system or to make 10 meter jumps.

Maybe one day it will be possible for us to settle our red neighbored planet, but till then will past many thousands of years at least.