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A comment on Elon Musk provides new details on his ‘mind blowing’ mission to Mars. Parent comment

Re:Elon Musk provides new details on his ‘mind blowing’ miss... by TeMPOraL on Saturday June 11, 2016 @10:48AM (#11883614)
"Self-sustaining" by definition means able to survive indefinitely without importing anything from Earth.
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Re:Elon Musk provides new details on his ‘mind blowing’ miss... by nabla9 on Saturday June 11, 2016 @11:01AM (#11883661)
Just few things needed for that

- mining industry

- chemical industry with thousands of end products.

- biochemical industry (medicines, plastics etc.)

- microprocessor fab and IC fabrication

- indefinitely sustained biosphere

- manufacturing industry for different high-end products, including rockets, instruments etc. and ability to maintain them.

I think you need large city with maybe 500,000 people at minimum with current technology.

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