Digest Number 52

This space colonies vs Mars
colonies busness is silly. Its like Europeans arguing whether to go to North
America or South America. I wouldrespectfullydisagree with this analogy. It would only be applicable if: 1. Getting to NorthAmerica from Europe only consumed a fraction as much energy as to South America 2.Had a trip time only 1/70th as long 3. North America had a readily usable energy supply which was available continuously, where South America's energy supply was weaker and only availableless than half the time 4.It was possible to build flimsy structures in North America which were many miles across whichfor some reason collapse under their own weight when we try to build them in South America 5. We could add to the land mass of North America whenever we wanted to 6. North America could be taken on a world-wide cruise