Re:Mars is, at best, no less risky a place than Earth
by LargoLasskhyfv on Friday July 17, 2020 @09:50PM
(#23878245)
Err, thanks. I meant the ones in Antarctica, or did I get that wrong?
Re:Mars is, at best, no less risky a place than Earth
by lumost on Saturday July 18, 2020 @12:06AM
(#23878810)
ahh no - mistake was mine. Antarctica has been home to whaling colonies in previous time periods.
Re:Mars is, at best, no less risky a place than Earth
by LargoLasskhyfv on Saturday July 18, 2020 @01:46AM
(#23879323)
Yes, I know that. But we don't do that anymore, execpt the Japanese.
Once the transit economics are understood, The Moon and Mars can both provide accessible surface deposits of water, iron, copper, and other commodities to orbit for less energy than earth. A number of activities for resource procurement for commercial space industries will be a tad easier when attached to a big low-g rock where an extra green house can simply be dug out. The relative lack of environmental externalities from mining and other activities may be a resource unto itself in the next few decades.
On a longer timeline - Mars could be given a tolerable atmospheric pressure and liquid water for <100 trillion dollars. Barring a change in global growth rates that would be ~3% of annual global GDP by 2120, and .1% by 2220.