A simple question

On 1/25/12 9:57 AM, sraj wrote:

> Our aim should be to become truly space faring by being able to 'live out
> there' with minimum support. The sooner we do it, the more confidence we
> will have that it can be done.

But it won't be done that way -- the first space stations have NOT been
self-sufficient, nor will the next ones. Rather, as we get more and
more people in space, economics will drive alternative sources for
needed materials (i.e. other than Earth) based on lots of different
factors. For example: most food is bulky and fairly easy to produce on
orbit, so that will probably be an early development; but microchips are
tiny, and require inconveniently large factories and supply chains, so
they will be shipped up from Earth for a long time.

Eventually, there will be enough offworld industry to supply any need,
but even then no one colony will be self-sufficient -- they'll just be
buying their supplies mostly from other colonies, rather than from the
Earth.

Best,
- Joe