Yet another reason that Mars colonisation is such a distant and stupid pipedream. I'm not saying humanity shouldn't strive to continue exploring, but if we can't live sustainably on the one habitable planet we already have, the idea of expanding to one that's objectively hostile as some sort of backup plan is pure delusion. Musk isn't a dreamer - he's a con man.
The notion that we need to achieve utopia here before moving forward is so toxic. If people in the past had thought that way, we'd still be trying to make the perfect village in Africa.
"Humanity" isn't a preschool classroom where we all hold hands and do one thing at a time like the teacher says. It's fine for some people to be working towards the future while others are trying to fix things in the present.
This seems like a response tediously intent on missing the point: if you genuinely want to build a sustainable settlement on Mars, you should start by proving out sustainable settlements in harsh environments on Earth -- you could build out sustainable settlements in the Antarctic, the depths of the Sahara, and under the ocean all with substantially less expense/risk than trying to build a sustainable settlement on Mars. You'd learn how to build better sustainable settlements by doing so and encounter some of the problems you'll encounter on Mars with less dire consequences. And you don't have to choose one or the other: you can parallel path it by continuing to improve rocketry while building up sustainability strategies in harsh environments on Earth. The fact that Musk is intent on reaching Mars as the only difficult problem just underscores that he is not serious about settling Mars (or, perhaps, that he simply isn't that bright).
There is no reason that people who want to take on a ridiculous challenge shouldn't.
> ...you could build out sustainable settlements in the Antarctic, the depths of the Sahara...
That isn't an argument. I don't know what that is.
People who die on their way up to Mount Everest could .... ? People who spend their lives playing games could ... ? What a strange way to think.
Its good that different people really do want to do different things. Some of the best of have been taking on unbelievable challenges, pass or fail, live or die, since history began. Celebrate it.
You are right that for any interplanetary human expedition a prerequisite is to be able to make a closed environment for humans, where carbon dioxide, water, food left-overs and almost all other waste products generated by humans are recycled, producing free oxygen, potable water and food.
However, this does not mean that other required technologies, like for transportation or for protection against dust, cannot be solved before.
I also agree that recycling technologies are actually more important than spacecraft technologies, because they are equally applicable on Earth, not only on the path to other planets or in bases established there.
I don't know why we are even discussing people on Mars, we can't even make a self-sustaining biodome on Earth, how are we suppose to do that on another planet? Atleast a moonbase idea is potentially close enough and low enough gravity that people could potentially leave, receive supplies and equipment, or even have more people sent to help within a realistic timespan. What does Mars bring you? Less sunlight, an abrasive and harsh environment, 1 year+ for emergency supplies, and likely zero ability to actually leave Mars again.
Anyone who is trying to sell a Mars base is either ignorant, a moron, a massive grifter, or all of the above.
I don't understand the projection of one person's reasonable lack of enthusiasm, onto the entire human race.
There are 8 billion of us. If a few want to make a go of it, you can be sure they will know the ridiculous challenges.
Space travel costs are falling rapidly. The Solar System has vast resources that seem impossible to reach today, but won't be for long in historical terms.
People still die climbing Mount Everest, for no purpose I can see. But I am not going to gripe if people continue making the climb.
Right now there is a space race happening, and solving for each challenge is just engineering.
Given the demand for rare earths and other exotic and critical metals and substances, with the potential for specialized zero gravity factories, the race will continue for the forseeable future.
The question of there bieng life on Mars or the slightest chance of colinisation will keep a steady pressure to set up bases and full round trip transportation.
Simple facts, 'elon'is abandoning falcon to focus on starship, because as soon as starship is fully commisioned, China will have built one, and if China likes it, then they will scale and the only advantage 'elon' has is the jump.The only reasons China will get into 'Big Space' is if they see proffit AND prestige,which they do, so the race is on now,PLACE YOUR BETS, pikers, punters, big rollers, grifters, and all
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[ 0.24 ms ] story [ 35.3 ms ] thread"Humanity" isn't a preschool classroom where we all hold hands and do one thing at a time like the teacher says. It's fine for some people to be working towards the future while others are trying to fix things in the present.
There is no reason that people who want to take on a ridiculous challenge shouldn't.
> ...you could build out sustainable settlements in the Antarctic, the depths of the Sahara...
That isn't an argument. I don't know what that is.
People who die on their way up to Mount Everest could .... ? People who spend their lives playing games could ... ? What a strange way to think.
Its good that different people really do want to do different things. Some of the best of have been taking on unbelievable challenges, pass or fail, live or die, since history began. Celebrate it.
However, this does not mean that other required technologies, like for transportation or for protection against dust, cannot be solved before.
I also agree that recycling technologies are actually more important than spacecraft technologies, because they are equally applicable on Earth, not only on the path to other planets or in bases established there.
Anyone who is trying to sell a Mars base is either ignorant, a moron, a massive grifter, or all of the above.
There are 8 billion of us. If a few want to make a go of it, you can be sure they will know the ridiculous challenges.
Space travel costs are falling rapidly. The Solar System has vast resources that seem impossible to reach today, but won't be for long in historical terms.
People still die climbing Mount Everest, for no purpose I can see. But I am not going to gripe if people continue making the climb.