Re:Elon Musk Publishes Plans for Colonizing Mars
by ashark on Friday June 16, 2017 @07:20PM
(#14573276)
I'd think even a dinosaur-killer-stricken earth with all kinds of climate and other problems would still be a lot more pleasant to live on than Mars. I mean, if you imagine an Earth that's been totally ruined in every imaginable way you're basically describing Mars, but still better because at least there's 1G of gravity and a really good built-in radiation shield.
Re:Elon Musk Publishes Plans for Colonizing Mars
by yellowapple on Friday June 16, 2017 @05:24PM
(#14572753)
The actual answer to "why not the Moon?" is - AFAICT - because it's less likely to be able to sustain a human population. Notably, there's a significant shortage of water compared to even Mars (though recent discoveries seem to indicate that there might be more water than previously thought).
Some people don't want all of our eggs in one basket. The chances a planet gets destroyed is a bit higher than a solar system or multiple planets.
Also one counter-argument to this is "But then why not the Moon?" I don't have as strong of a counterargument for that other than without the Earth's gravitational pull keeping the Moon in orbit, maybe it will get knocked into the sun or something when Earth is destroyed. Also I'm pretty sure international treaties and such prevent colonization of the moon.