Not that I WANT to terraform Mars...

From: Bill [mailto:qwerty172@...]

What most terraforming enthusist believe is that planets are easier to
work with, because they happen to live on one.

I think this statement hits the nail on the head more squarely than just
about any other statement I've seen on this subject.

In reality all the
problems associated with space colonization (except possibly gravity)
would have to be solved on a planetary level. This includes atmosphere
retention, passive and active shielding, temperature control,
maintenance and control of the biosphere.

Stop thinking of Mars as that planet over there ready to be colonized,
and start thinking of it as a very large colony that has to be
actively managed like any other complex none self-regulating system.

I've been arguing this point in the space newsgroups on Usenet for several
years now. I've become convinced that my chief difficulty is the unspoken
(and thus unquestioned) assumption that Mars "meets us halfway". But some
thoughtful and informed analysis will quickly show that this is not the
case.

Regards,

Mike Combs

From:
Bill [mailto:qwerty172@...]
What most terraforming enthusist believe is that planets are easier to
work with, because they happen to live on one.

I think this statement hits the nail on the head more squarely than just about any other statement I've seen on this subject.

In reality all the
problems associated with space colonization (except possibly gravity)
would have to be solved on a planetary level. This includes atmosphere
retention, passive and active shielding, temperature control,
maintenance and control of the biosphere.
Stop thinking of Mars as that planet over there ready to be colonized,
and start thinking of it as a very large colony that has to be
actively managed like any other complex none self-regulating system.

I've been arguing this point in the space newsgroups on Usenet for several years now. I've become convinced that my chief difficulty is the unspoken (and thus unquestioned) assumption that Mars "meets us halfway". But some thoughtful and informed analysis will quickly show that this is not the case.

Regards,
Mike Combs