The advantage of space islands over terraforming Mars is that the
technowlogy for which Zubrin wishes to achieve his dream is based on
Junk Science. Transporting all that equipment is going to take time and
resources. And don't forget the personel who'll have to operate it and
the resources necessary to sustain them. The technowlogy to construct
space islands is basicly existing technowlogy adapted to zero gravity.
The resources are more readily at hand. And the time between starting
and delivery of space island habitats available for settelment is much
muck quicker in achievement than a new Mars.
Would the availability of copious amount of water on Mars shift the advantage to Mars?
From: terrierkeeper
To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 8:23 PM
Subject: [spacesettlers] Space Islands vs Mars
The advantage of space islands over terraforming Mars is that the
technowlogy for which Zubrin wishes to achieve his dream is based on
Junk Science. Transporting all that equipment is going to take time and
resources. And don't forget the personel who'll have to operate it and
the resources necessary to sustain them. The technowlogy to construct
space islands is basicly existing technowlogy adapted to zero gravity.
The resources are more readily at hand. And the time between starting
and delivery of space island habitats available for settelment is much
muck quicker in achievement than a new Mars.
Water, like an atmosphere and magnetic field, can make an outpost on Mars technologically more feasible. Or, rather, it makes the environment more forgiving. Does that change the economics?
Though I think there are a few technical advantages to Mars, I am still not clear on the economic advantage of Mars.
sraj wrote:
Would the availability of copious amount of water on Mars shift the advantage to Mars?
Selvaraj
From: terrierkeeper
To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 8:23 PM
Subject: [spacesettlers] Space Islands vs Mars
The advantage of space islands over terraforming Mars is that the
technowlogy for which Zubrin wishes to achieve his dream is based on
Junk Science. Transporting all that equipment is going to take time and
resources. And don't forget the personel who'll have to operate it and
the resources necessary to sustain them. The technowlogy to construct
space islands is basicly existing technowlogy adapted to zero gravity.
The resources are more readily at hand. And the time between starting
and delivery of space island habitats available for settelment is much
muck quicker in achievement than a new Mars.
From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of sraj
> shift the advantage to Mars?
I'd say no, for the simple reason that there's no shortage of NEOs of
the Carbonaceous Chondritic variety. CC asteroids can be anywhere from
10-20% water.
Regards,
Mike Combs
From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Matt Gallimore
> on Mars technologically more feasible. Or, rather, it makes the
> environment more forgiving. Does that change the economics?
This is an extremely important point and it is not well understood. >;)
So many Mars advocates, when they insist that colonies on Mars will
happen way, way before anybody ever even thinks about building a colony
in Earth orbit are looking at it from a single standpoint: Which
environment presents the greatest technological challenges to
life-support requirements. But this viewpoint ignores economics, which
suggests that the first colonies beyond the Earth will be built in
support of the earliest economic opportunities beyond Earth. One should
expect these opportunities to begin with products or services marketable
to Earth, since that's the situation we start with.
Regards,
Mike Combs