build project orion nuclear impulse space craft (spaceships powered by nuclear explosions) - something we could have done with 1960s technology
drill holes into crust of mars using stuffton of nuclear bombs, so heat is pumped to the surface
place orbital mirrors around mars orbit to gather more sunlight, reflect it down to the surface
splice together lichens to break up rocks
place colonists in underground shelters as a basic atmosphere develops
split argon from the rocks; mars lacks a neutral element like the nitrogen in earths atmosphere
use automated shuttles to bring nitrogen from titan to mars, for soil
use automated shuttles to punt metal rich asteroids into orbit around mars, mine asteroids
use an asteroid as a link for a space elevator