Terraforming Mars

> Why would you want to? Someone else debated this with me and I just
> don't see the motivation. Clearly artificial environments will have
> their benefits but to me there has never been anything as awe
> inspiring as leaving the confines of civilization and venturing
> into the wild.

I didn't mean ignore planetary surfaces entirely, but only as places
for which one might want to permanently hang their hat... And
considering the gravity well, if we can supply ourselves with
comestibles from elsewhere, then why would we want to incur the expense
of obtaining them from 'the well'?

As far as planetary surfaces in general, 'Artificial environments' is a
relative term. When you have 3-4 generations of settlers raised in the
(relative) confines of a Space Habitat - THAT becomes 'natural' and
visiting a planetary surface might one day become as 'exotic' as SCUBA
diving...