One step backwards (Step zero)

From: Schonert Edward

> Sorry for a negative response on this one. With Salvaraj's approach
> 1607 & 1620 Jamestown & Plymouth Rock colonists would be advised
> NO! NO! NO! Lets build a 100,000 pop. settlement in Canary Islands 1st !!!
> THEN we can attempt crossing that wild Atlantic.
>
> Any more Mars first advocates in group to back me up on this one?

I don't think these kinds of matters are settled by historical analogies. I think they're settled by economics. And whether it's realized or not, if we're talking about human settlement, we're talking about an economic activity (namely, people pursuing economic opportunities).

Unlike Mars, the natural resources of the moon are sufficiently close by that their usage might involve returns to the terrestrial economy. And we need to remember that right now, every investor in existence is an Earthling.

The resources of the Asteroid Belt are probably also too distant for square-one investment (although likely to become invaluable later on). Certain Near-Earth Asteroids might be close enough to existing markets to compete economically with the Moon. But the Moon will always enjoy quick travel times, and time is money.

Regards,

Mike Combs